Notre Dame is keeping pace with the new financial reality of college sports, and that means a first for one of the sport’s cleanest looks. In 2026, the Fighting Irish will wear a jersey patch for the first time, with SoFi set to appear near the left shoulder.
The move was announced on July 28 and immediately split fans who care deeply about tradition. It also brings Notre Dame a major cash injection at a time when the program enters the season with some of its highest expectations in years as a consensus national championship contender.
The school said the partnership is tied to a broader initiative aimed at helping student-athletes beyond the field. “SoFi and Notre Dame Athletics are collaborating to help the next generation of Notre Dame student-athletes build the foundation for long-term financial success,” the school said in a press release, explaining that the partnership will “establish an annual fund to further Notre Dame’s '4 for Forever' promise, which will support all Notre Dame student-athletes through scholarships, financial education, career development and exclusive opportunities.”
SoFi, the company behind the patch, is a digital financial services platform and lender. It offers loan options, checking and savings accounts and a credit card, and it also has its name on the home of the Rams and Chargers. That venue is set to host its second Super Bowl in February, with Super Bowl 61 on the horizon as well.
Notre Dame did not disclose the value of the deal, but ESPN reported the agreement is worth between $18-20 million annually over six years. That puts the total at well over $100 million, a huge number even in the NIL era.
College jersey sponsorships vary widely depending on the school and the reach of the brand. Ohio State reached a reported $17 million per year agreement with JPMorganChase this summer to put the bank on all of its jerseys across 36 sports. Illinois, meanwhile, landed a deal with Busey Bank worth $6 million annually.
For now, $20 million looks like the ceiling for college sports jersey patch deals.
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