Notre Dame has finalized a lucrative six-year partnership with SoFi Technologies that includes prominent placement of the financial services company's brand on the Fighting Irish's athletic jerseys. The deal, valued at an estimated $18 million to $20 million per year, is the richest of its kind in college athletics history, surpassing a recent agreement by Ohio State.
The new sponsorship will feature the SoFi logo on jerseys across all Notre Dame sports beginning in the fall season. In addition to the jersey placement, SoFi will establish an annual $1.4 million fund to support Notre Dame's "4 for Forever" campaign. This initiative provides scholarships for athletes in 26 sports and offers resources for financial education and career development.
SoFi will also create a full-tuition Champions Scholarship, intended for one male and one female walk-on athlete who demonstrate exceptional ambition, resilience, leadership, and service. Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua stated that the partnership aligns with the university's commitment to developing strong leaders and will create lasting value for student-athletes.
The NCAA Division I approved corporate jersey patches in January, a move aimed at generating significant revenue to help athletic departments manage the rising costs associated with supporting student-athletes. Teams are now permitted to display two patches, each no larger than four square inches, on their uniforms during regular-season games.
This trend of jersey sponsorships is becoming increasingly common in college sports, with other universities such as LSU, Wisconsin, and Arkansas also adopting similar deals. More programs are expected to follow suit as the financial landscape of college athletics continues to evolve.