The Florida Gators are putting a new name on the field and a big new number on the books.
The University of Florida athletic program announced a multi-year partnership with Ripple, a company that provides blockchain solutions across traditional and digital finance, with the agreement set to begin with the 2026 football season. The deal is valued at $5 million per year, according to the Orlando Sentinel, making it one of the biggest sponsorship arrangements in college sports.
Starting with Saturday’s season opener against the FAU Owls, the XRP cryptocurrency logo will appear at each 25-yard line inside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin said in a statement, "Florida has a long history of embracing innovation and technology to enhance the experience of our fans and advance our programs," said Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin in a statement.
"Ripple has established itself as an innovative leader in financial technology, and we're excited to welcome XRP to Gator Nation. This partnership brings together two organizations that think boldly about the future, and we look forward to introducing XRP to our fans."
Ripple’s role goes beyond the field markings. The company will also help support financial and technology education for Florida student-athletes and the campus community, with coverage that includes both traditional finance and digital assets.
The new arrangement fits into a broader shift Florida has already been using to bring in revenue. Last season, Geico Insurance paid $1 million to place advertisements in each of the Gators’ final two home games, against Tennessee and Florida State. The school moved in that direction after an NCAA ruling allowed field logos to help athletic departments generate more money as programs prepared to share revenue with student-athletes through NIL.
That revenue-sharing plan is tied to the House v. NCAA settlement, which requires schools to distribute $20.5 million to athletes beginning July 1, 2025.
Roughly 90% of that total is slated for football and men’s basketball, with football receiving 75% and men’s basketball 15%. Women’s basketball gets 5%, and the remaining 5% goes to the rest of the athletic department.
The settlement also set a recurring expense to rise 4% each year through the end of the 2034-35 school year.
Corporate logos on the field are limited to three spots, including one on the 50-yard line and two smaller placements elsewhere. Before this change, sponsor logos were allowed only for postseason games and neutral-site contests.
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