Ohio State and JPMorgan Chase Form Partnership
Ohio State Athletics has announced a comprehensive partnership with JPMorgan Chase, designating the financial services firm as the official bank sponsor of Ohio State Athletics. This agreement marks JPMorgan Chase’s initial venture into college athletics and establishes Chase as the new jersey patch partner for all 36 of Ohio State’s men’s and women’s varsity programs. The collaboration aims to provide new resources for student-athletes through Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) opportunities, enhance competitive success, and foster academic partnerships across the university.
Ross Bjork, Senior Vice President and Wolfe Foundation-Eugene Smith Endowed Athletics Director at Ohio State, highlighted the natural alignment between the two organizations, citing JPMorgan Chase’s global presence and strong ties to Ohio. He emphasized that the partnership is designed to create meaningful opportunities for student-athletes, supporting the athletic programs’ sustained excellence and competitiveness while upholding Ohio State’s traditions and values.
The deal includes the addition of the bank’s logo to the uniforms of all 36 varsity sports programs. Reports indicate the agreement is valued at nearly $17 million annually. The NCAA approved a rule change in January, allowing schools to feature up to two corporate patches on team uniforms and equipment starting in the upcoming academic year.
Enhancing Student-Athlete and Fan Experience
A central focus of the partnership is to improve the student-athlete experience, with particular attention to financial education, student-athlete financial councils, career development, and long-term personal success. Through dedicated programs, student-athletes will gain access to financial literacy resources, advisory support, and tools to prepare them for their lives beyond athletic competition.
Jennifer Roberts, CEO of Chase Consumer Banking, stated that the partnership will bring Chase’s capabilities to the Ohio State community through financial education and resources for student-athletes, along with exclusive fan experiences and gameday offers. This builds upon JPMorgan Chase’s existing relationship with central Ohio and Ohio State, which includes student engagement, commercial banking, and career pathways.
The agreement also seeks to enhance the fan experience across Ohio State Athletics. This will involve expanded JPMorgan Chase branding at Ohio Stadium and the Schottenstein Center, as well as the firm’s role as presenting sponsor of the new 1922 Club. Cardholders can expect exclusive benefits, such as special ticket offers, gameday savings, and premium experiences, designed to deepen their connection to the Buckeyes.
Impact and Future Implications
The collaboration was facilitated with the support of University and Athletics Leadership and Learfield’s Ohio State Sports Properties, the exclusive multimedia rights holder for Ohio State Athletics. Cole Gahagan, CEO of Learfield, noted that JPMorgan Chase’s first investment in college athletics underscores the strength of the Buckeyes brand and the power of storytelling within college sports.
The athletic department has been actively seeking to increase sponsorship revenue through its prominent assets. This new revenue is anticipated to help the department manage new expenses related to revenue sharing with athletes, a compensation model that followed the final approval of a settlement of three antitrust lawsuits last year. Ohio State intends to distribute the maximum allowable amount of $21.3 million to athletes in football, men’s and women’s basketball, and women’s volleyball during the 2026-27 academic year.
The Ohio State University Department of Athletics operates as a self-sustaining unit, receiving no university funds, tax dollars, or student fees. The department supports approximately 1,000 student-athletes across 36 scholarship varsity sports. The Buckeyes football program has secured nine national championships and 39 Big Ten Conference titles, contributing to Ohio State’s 94 team national championships across all sports.
The JPMorgan Chase logo will be positioned on the right chest of the jerseys, above the Big Ten logo, alongside patches for the Big Ten and Nike, in addition to Ohio State branding.
Source: ohiostatebuckeyes.com
