The Miami Hurricanes are on the verge of a major wardrobe change - and a massive payday to go with it.
According to the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson, Miami has agreed to a 10-year apparel contract with Nike worth “more than $200 million,” a deal that averages about $20 million per year and is expected to rank among the biggest apparel agreements in college sports history. The Hurricanes are slated to switch back to Nike next year after more than a decade in Adidas.
The deal is also expected to be heavily weighted toward cash. Jackson reported that “around two-thirds” of the contract will come in cash, with the rest paid in apparel. That marks a major jump from Miami’s current arrangement with Adidas, which reportedly paid the school $6.5 million annually across a 12-year deal.
Adidas had the chance to match Nike’s terms when Miami’s current contract expired in 2027, but did not, according to the Miami Herald. The new Nike agreement is expected to become the largest apparel deal associated with any college program, topping Oregon.
Miami plans to begin wearing Nike uniforms again in 2027. The Herald also reported that the added money could go toward athletic department costs, NIL allocation and possibly an on-campus football office building that remains in the early stages of development.
This move brings Miami back to a brand it once wore for decades. The Hurricanes had a Nike sponsorship from 1987 through 2015, and the original 1987 agreement was the first all-sports contract signed by a university with any brand.
Miami then split with Nike in 2015 after Adidas offered more money. Now, the Hurricanes are heading back to the Swoosh.
In Other News...
Miami Heads Into Wake Forest With A Depth Problem Fans Feared
Miamis first ACC availability report for the Wake Forest game arrived with a familiar kind of concern for Mario Cristobals defense, as four Hurricanes were listed out because of injuries. Cornerbacks OJ Frederique Jr. and Xavier Lucas, defensive back JaBoree Antoine and tight end Luka Gilbert all landed on the report, leaving Miami to sort through its depth chart with a road trip looming and a few key spots suddenly thinner than expected.
Cristobal offered injury details and recovery timelines for the injured players, but the bigger immediate question is how Miami adjusts on the back end if it has to go without multiple defensive backs. Wake Forest, meanwhile, appears set to go with Gio Lopez, who is listed as probable and expected to start, so the Hurricanes are heading into the matchup knowing the opposing offense should have its quarterback situation settled while theirs carries a little more uncertainty. [Read more 🡒]
Kirk Herbstreit Said What Miami Fans Were Already Thinking
Miami fans did not need much convincing that a move away from Adidas would be welcomed, but Kirk Herbstreit went ahead and said the quiet part out loud. The ESPN analyst publicly reacted to Miamis reported $200 million deal with Nike, celebrating the switch in a way that matched the frustration plenty of Hurricanes supporters had already been feeling about the programs look on Saturdays.
Herbstreit had already made his feelings known about Miamis Adidas uniforms, and his latest reaction only added to the sense that the apparel change was overdue. With his platform on ESPN and College GameDay, his voice carries plenty of weight, and the enthusiasm around the new Nike era is now part of the broader buzz surrounding Miami as it keeps trying to sharpen its brand on and off the field. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Fans Just Got An Early Look At A Challenging 2027 ACC Slate
The Atlantic Coast Conference has already given Miami fans a glimpse at what the 2027 football season could look like, and the early returns suggest a demanding league slate. The Hurricanes schedule includes matchups with Cal, Louisville, Virginia, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest, a group that should keep the conversation around the program centered on depth, travel and how well Mario Cristobals team handles the grind of ACC play.
One date stands out right away: Wake Forest is set for Friday, Sept. 18, at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN, giving Miami another primetime spot on a night stage. Cristobal has already talked about the teams preparation and practice schedule, a reminder that even with the calendar still well ahead, the Hurricanes are thinking about how to manage the work required for a schedule that does not look forgiving from the start. [Read more 🡒]