Penn State Enters A New Adidas Era After Decades With Nike

Penn State fans, get ready for a fresh look as the university kicks off a lucrative 10-year partnership with adidas, offering new gear and marking a new era in Nittany Lions sports.

Penn State football fans are about to see a major wardrobe change. The school’s new 10-year apparel deal with adidas takes effect July 1, bringing an end to Penn State’s 33-year run with Nike.

The partnership, first announced last September, has been described by university officials as “transformational.” Reports, including one from the Centre Daily Times, have pegged the value at as much as $300 million. Adidas will handle uniforms, footwear and apparel for every Penn State varsity sport, while also producing merchandise for sale.

For fans looking to get in early on the new look, Penn State is rolling out a series of pop-up shopping events at Pegula Ice Arena in State College throughout July. The dates are July 1-2 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., July 8 from noon to 5 p.m., July 9 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., July 10-11 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and July 12 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The July 10 weekend pop-up will come with a little extra for collectors and the curious alike: photo opportunities with Penn State’s 1982 and 1986 football national championship trophies, along with several 2025-26 season trophies, including the one recognizing wrestling’s fifth straight national title.

The football side of the switch will become visible this fall. Penn State and new head coach Matt Campbell are set to unveil their rebranded uniforms in the Sept. 5 season-opener against Marshall at Beaver Stadium.

When the adidas deal was announced, athletic director Pat Kraft called it “a new industry standard.

"This partnership goes far beyond uniforms, it is unlike anything else in the marketplace," he said in a university release. "Adidas is making an unprecedented commitment to Penn State: delivering record investment in our department, groundbreaking NIL and marketing opportunities and access to technology and innovation that no other program can match."

Penn State also marked the end of its Nike partnership this week with a social media post thanking the Oregon-based company for its three decades-plus run, complete with a poster and blue heart.

Adidas’ other college partners include Indiana, Tennessee, Miami (Fla.), Nebraska, Texas A&M and Washington.

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