This from ESPN: Ohio St. announces Nike extension for reported $252 million 9:21 PM ET Darren Rovell ESPN Senior Writer Email print comment Ohio State is on top again. Not on the football field, but in the bank. The school announced on Wednesday that it extended its deal with Nike for another 15 years. The Wall Street Journal reported the deal was worth $252 million, which would make it the most valuable deal in college sports on a per annum basis and in total size. For the first time in school history, Ohio State wore black alternate uniforms for one game in 2015 as part of its association with Nike. Courtesy of Ohio State Athletics The Journal reported the breakdown includes $112 million in product and at least $103 million in cash. Nike signed a 15-year deal with Texas worth $250 million in November and an 11-year deal, with an option for four more years, at a price of $169 million with the University of Michigan in July. Neither Nike nor Ohio State would confirm the reported numbers, but the school's athletic director said it was in fact the largest deal. "We were deserving in this deal to be No. 1 in the country," athletic director Gene Smith told the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "There are a number of criteria in that partnership where we demonstrated that we performed extremely well, and so we feel that's where we should be." As Ohio State has enjoyed success on the football field, so, too, has the amount of gear the school has sold. In 2002, Ohio State generated a reported $5 million in merchandise royalties. That number was $17 million last year. Nike has made a concerted effort to lock up its premiere schools by signing them to longer contracts. It now has Ohio State through 2033, Texas through 2031 and Michigan through 2027 with an option to be extended through 2031.
This may be the downfall of college football. It may become (more than it is now) NFL2. What do we all have to do for that much money? Star player with a concussion....play him! Ditch your No. 1 rival when they are not very good for a while...done! Eliminate the college logo for a larger Swoosh....done! I don't know it just seems scary. :shock:
When the players hear about deals like this it's natural that they feel that they're entitled to a piece of the pie. And when they don't get it within the rules, they feel justified going outside them.
KP, The last Michigan game I attended had an "NFL lite" feel. I suspect all this money flowing to well known schools in power conferences will only increase the gap between the have and have not programs. The popularity of college football is based in major part by tradtions established by time and hard work but money and changing times can easily sweep away structures that were built by decades of toil.
It's definitely different....all about the "fan experience". Which means hamster races, kiss cam, god awful rock music blaring, players can't get on the field unless they run through smoke. Steve Patterson tried to "improve" the fan experience at our stadium in Austin but instead he alienated most of the fans and he got fired. Turns out they mostly like good football and not having to pay for tailgating spots that once were free and stuff like that!
Terry, I'm afraid Nike (and other corporations) could bring so much money to the table that they don't even really care if any fans show up or not!
Kp, Whether we like it or not, money seems to control the game and it's not going to change. College football has changed forever and the major programs will survive, I am not so sure about the other programs.
I agree the money will change the game. My fear is that same change shifted the NFL years ago where I went from a serious fan to the casual observer I am today with the NFL...When it went from a game to an exploited must see TV event that resembles Mad Max at times with the fireworks and smoke entrances it became pretty much disgusting to me. I guess I'm a purist at heart and appreciate traditions and less Kardashian type hype....
Ralph, I have gone from a big NFL fan back when Jim Brown played for Cleveland, to never watching the NFL anymore. I can not remember the last Super Bowl I watched! Could be my age, but Jif stills follows the Pats! :wink:
Don...it's awfully tough to care about the NFL playoffs or the Superbowl when you are a Browns fan. :cry:
More information than I really care about.. How Texas and Ohio State Deals Compare I didn't really analyze it but fans on the Texas site said that Texas took more cash, Ohio State more equipment. That because Ohio State supports 12 more sports than Texas that we got more cash per sport. Any both schools made out like bandits. The ND deal with Under Armour is different from any other deal in that we also got stock so it's hard to value that in comparison to other deals.