Notre Dame is about to make a rare uniform change, and the price tag is big enough to turn heads.
For the first time, the Fighting Irish will wear a jersey patch in 2026, adding SoFi to one of college football’s cleanest looks. The patch sits near the left shoulder, and while it marks a visible break from tradition, it also brings a serious financial lift for a program that enters the season with some of its highest expectations in years as a consensus national championship contender.
Notre Dame and SoFi announced the partnership on July 28, and the school tied the deal to a broader student-athlete initiative. In its press release, Notre Dame said, "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," adding 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, for its part, is a digital financial services platform and lender. It offers ways for customers to manage money through loan options, checking and savings accounts, and a credit card. The company is also behind the naming rights to the home of the Rams and Chargers, SoFi Stadium, which is set to host its second Super Bowl in February.
Notre Dame did not disclose the value of the agreement, but ESPN reported the deal is worth between $18-20 million annually over six years. That would put the total well beyond $100 million and give the Irish a major boost in the increasingly competitive NIL landscape.
The Notre Dame deal also underscores how much jersey sponsorship values can vary across college sports. Ohio State agreed to a reported $17 million per year deal with JPMorganChase this summer for jersey sponsorship across 36 sports, while Illinois reached a $6 million annual agreement with Busey Bank.
For now, $20 million looks like the ceiling for jersey patch deals in college sports.
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