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NCAA Division I Approves Sponsor Patches on Uniforms Starting Aug. 1, 2026

The move is intended to help fund new athlete payments through a fresh campus-level ad revenue stream.

Overview

  • Division I programs may add up to two commercial logos on uniforms and apparel and one on equipment during preseason and regular season play, with each patch capped at 4 square inches.
  • An additional logo will be permitted on uniforms and apparel for conference championship events under the new policy.
  • Use during official NCAA championships is not permitted at this time, with postseason committees set to consider potential policies and conflicts with existing NCAA sponsors.
  • The College Football Playoff falls outside NCAA championship governance, positioning football programs to wear patches in postseason games.
  • Leaders framed the change as funding for athlete benefits under revenue sharing (about $20.5 million per school this season), as schools pursue deals such as UNLV’s five-year, $11 million agreement, with research estimating patch values ranging from roughly $500,000 to $12 million.