By Alexa Linchuck | August 20, 2024
As the NIL era continues to transform college athletics, jersey patches have emerged as a potential way for athletic departments to generate revenue and support their programs. Despite current NCAA restrictions on where these sponsored patches can appear, there is optimism for future changes. Jonathan Marks, Chief Business Officer of Elevate Marketplace, expressed confidence in this trend, noting, “Following the recent approval by the NCAA of the on-field logo sponsorship, we believe monetizing jersey patches will be the next major revenue opportunity for athletic departments.”
Research by Sportico suggests that the top 50 college football and men’s basketball teams are poised to see significant financial benefits from NIL jersey patches. For instance, Alabama football is projected to generate $6 million, while Duke’s men’s basketball could bring in $2.2 million from these patches in the 2025-2026 seasons. These powerhouse programs, already dominant in their respective sports, are now positioned to further capitalize on their marketability through NIL opportunities.
A recent example of this trend can be seen at the University of Hawaii, where the men’s basketball practice jerseys will feature sponsored patches from the Rainbow Collective. This partnership not only supports the athletes but also provides sponsors with valuable visibility during media appearances.
While the NCAA’s current rules limit in-game sponsorships, the strategic use of jersey patches in other areas demonstrates how schools and athletes are finding innovative ways to benefit from NIL opportunities. As this landscape continues to develop, it will be intriguing to see how these patches shape the business of college sports and create new opportunities for athletes nationwide.
