Overview
- Tennessee began a new 10-year apparel partnership with Adidas effective July 1, 2026, ending its roughly 11-year relationship with Nike.
- The school staged coordinated uniform reveals across multiple days from July 6 to July 9 and capped the rollout with a social-video dark-mode football unveiling.
- New Adidas merchandise tied to the launch is scheduled to hit retail on July 10, with a separate Smokey Grey football design set for release later in the season.
- The Lady Vols received the most dramatic design changes, including Summitt Blue trim, removal of the checkerboard side pattern, last-name plates moved below numbers, and a white jersey that reads “Lady Vols” across the chest.
- Adidas and Tennessee present the deal as a move to make UT a flagship brand partner and to strengthen athlete NIL opportunities, a shift that could boost merchandise sales and broaden marketing for women’s programs.