Full Breakdown
Notre Dame Secures Record-Setting $18-$20 Million Annual Jersey Patch Deal with SoFi
7/29/2026, 2:47:26 PM
Core Deal Overview
The University of Notre Dame announced a multiyear partnership that places SoFi Technologies’ logo on the jerseys of every Fighting Irish team. The agreement, valued at roughly $18 million to $20 million per year, is reported to be the richest uniform-patch sponsorship in college athletics history. It marks the first time a non-apparel brand will appear as a patch on Notre Dame’s uniforms.
Financial Terms and Scholarship Funding
- Annual payout: $18 million-$20 million to Notre Dame Athletics.
- Dedicated fund: SoFi will create a $1.4 million yearly fund for the university’s “4 for Forever” campaign, which supports scholarships across 26 sports and provides financial-education resources.
- Champions Scholarship: A full-tuition award each year for one men’s and one women’s walk-on student-athlete who exemplify ambition, resilience, leadership and service.
Official Statements & Responses
Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua emphasized that the partnership aligns with the school’s “4 for Forever” promise to deliver the best student-athlete experience and to develop leaders for life beyond campus.
Context Within College Athletics
The NCAA approved the use of two 4-square-inch patches on uniforms in January, opening a new revenue stream for programs facing rising costs. Notre Dame’s deal follows Ohio State’s similar arrangement and joins a growing list of schools leveraging corporate patches to generate multimillion-dollar annual income. The recent $2.8 billion antitrust settlement has further enabled schools to explore direct licensing and sponsorship opportunities.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Notre Dame has spent generations developing champions in the classroom and on the field,” — Anthony Noto, CEO of SoFi — Anthony Noto, CEO of SoFi.
