Home / Sports / Penn State Inks $300M Adidas Deal, Ending 30-Year Nike Relationship
Penn State Inks $300M Adidas Deal, Ending 30-Year Nike Relationship
8 Sep
Summary
- Penn State signs 10-year, $300M agreement with Adidas
- Ends 30-year partnership with Nike, who "did not feel like a priority"
- Adidas gains another major college sports program
As of September 8th, 2025, Penn State University has finalized a landmark 10-year agreement with Adidas worth roughly $300 million, ending its three-decade-long partnership with Nike. The new deal provides the university with significant new resources to support its athletic programs, while also giving Adidas another major foothold in the lucrative college sports market.
According to multiple sources, Penn State's decision to leave Nike came after the school "did not feel like a priority" to the brand, despite the Nittany Lions' consistent success in football and other sports. The university recognized the special treatment that Nike's co-founder Phil Knight's alma mater, Oregon, received, and felt that Penn State was being overlooked compared to other major programs like Ohio State and Michigan.
The move reflects broader shifts in the college athletics landscape, as Tennessee also announced in August that it would be joining Adidas after more than a decade with Nike. The Volunteers are set to receive between $15 million and $20 million annually from Adidas, with a portion of that earmarked for NIL purposes.
Penn State's new deal with Adidas, which takes effect on July 1, 2026, positions the university alongside 12 other Power Five programs already affiliated with the brand, including Indiana, Nebraska, Washington, Louisville, Miami, and Texas A&M.
