Ohio State Athletics has entered a landmark corporate partnership with JPMorganChase that will place Chase branding on the jerseys of all 36 Buckeye varsity sports programs, the school announced Tuesday.
The multiyear agreement designates Chase as the official bank sponsor of Ohio State Athletics and the jersey patch partner across every men’s and women’s varsity team. Industry sources told ESPN’s Pete Thamel the deal is expected to generate nearly $17 million annually for Ohio State — an eye-popping figure projected to stand as an industry leader and larger than many NBA jersey-patch agreements.
Ohio State, Learfield (which brokered the deal), and JPMorganChase declined to publicly confirm the financial terms or exact length of the agreement. Multiple reports place the annual value in the $15–17 million range, well above other recent college patch deals.
“JPMorganChase is a global brand with deep roots in Ohio, making them a natural partner that shares our commitment to innovation, excellence and long-term community impact,” said Ohio State athletics director Ross Bjork. “Together, we have built a comprehensive and historic partnership that reflects the strong commercial strength of the Ohio State Athletics identity and the broader college athletics landscape.”
The partnership extends far beyond the patches. It includes NIL opportunities for student-athletes, dedicated financial literacy programming, advisory support, and career-development resources. Chase will also expand its branding presence at Ohio Stadium and the Schottenstein Center and serve as presenting sponsor of the new 1922 Club. Cardholders will receive exclusive ticket offers, gameday savings, and premium experiences.
The deal marks JPMorganChase’s first major investment in college athletics. The company already maintains a significant footprint in central Ohio, employing roughly 18,000 people in the region and hiring more than 1,700 Ohio State alumni over the past five years.
The white “Chase” patch will appear above the Big Ten logo on Ohio State football jerseys and on uniforms across the rest of the athletic department. The Buckeyes will debut the football version when they open the 2026 season against Ball State on Sept. 5 at Ohio Stadium.
The agreement arrives as jersey patches become more common in college sports following NCAA rule changes earlier this year. Ohio State joins fellow Big Ten programs Michigan State, Wisconsin, and Illinois in adding a commercial patch, but at a valuation that appears to set a new high-water mark.
For a program long regarded as one of the most valuable brands in college athletics, the partnership underscores both the commercial power of the Buckeyes and the growing willingness of major corporations to invest heavily in the college space.
