Penn State football is stepping into a new era - and it’s not just about a new head coach or a fresh roster. From the sideline to the stitching on their jerseys, change is in the air in Happy Valley.
With Matt Campbell taking over the program and a significant shift in branding - swapping Nike for Adidas during the 2025 season - the Nittany Lions are embracing a full-on reset. And now, there’s another layer of change coming to the college football landscape that could impact how Penn State and programs across the country look on game day.
Starting August 1, NCAA Division I football teams will be allowed to add up to two commercial logos or patches on their uniforms and apparel, plus one additional logo on equipment. This change, approved by the NCAA Division I Cabinet, applies to the entire season - from preseason through the regular season and conference championships.
The only exception? NCAA championship events, where sponsor patches will still be off-limits.
This move marks a significant shift in how college football programs can generate revenue. While jersey patches have long been a staple in professional sports, they’ve been off the table in college athletics - until now.
Josh Whitman, Illinois’ athletic director and chair of the NCAA Division I Cabinet, framed the decision as part of a broader effort to adapt to college sports’ evolving financial landscape. “College sports are in an exciting new era of increased financial benefits for student-athletes,” Whitman said. “This important policy change is another step forward in advancing that philosophy and providing members with increased flexibility.”
In plain terms, this is about schools having more ways to bring in money - and, ideally, funneling that back into benefits for players. It’s a move that aligns with the larger trend in college sports: more financial opportunities for athletes and institutions alike, whether through NIL deals, expanded TV rights, or now, jersey sponsorships.
For Penn State, this adds another layer to an offseason already packed with transformation. With Campbell at the helm, a nearly overhauled roster, and a new apparel partner in Adidas, the Nittany Lions are already redefining their identity. The addition of commercial logos on uniforms may seem like a small detail, but it’s another sign that the program - and college football as a whole - is evolving rapidly.
It’s worth noting, though, that while the NCAA is making moves to modernize the business side of the sport, there are still plenty of unresolved issues on the field. The College Football Playoff system continues to draw scrutiny, especially around how the top 12 teams are selected and the long layoff some teams face before the postseason.
Non-conference bowl games remain a question mark in terms of relevance and structure. Even the regular season calendar, with early-season matchups in “Week 0,” is up for debate.
Yet, amid all that, the NCAA has chosen to prioritize monetization - adding sponsor patches rather than addressing some of the sport’s deeper structural concerns.
Still, this latest policy change reflects the direction college athletics is heading. It’s a world where tradition meets commerce, and where programs like Penn State are adapting both on and off the field. Whether it’s a new coach, a new jersey patch, or a new playoff format, one thing’s clear: the game is changing.