Ohio State Athletics announced a new partnership with JPMorganChase on Tuesday, giving all 36 sports teams a jersey patch for the first time this season.
Chase Bank is now the official bank sponsor of Ohio State Athletics and the jersey patch partner across all 36 of the program’s men’s and women’s varsity sports. That means Chase branding on uniforms across the board, expanded signage at Ohio Stadium and the Schottenstein Center, and a role as presenting sponsor of the new 1922 Club.
“JPMorganChase is a global brand with deep roots in Ohio, making them a natural partner that shares our commitment to innovation, excellence and long-term community impact,” Ross Bjork said.
According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, “this is expected to yield OSU nearly $17 million per year, an eye-popping number that’s expected to be an industry leader.” Thamel also noted that the value is higher than some NBA jersey patch deals, which showcases the power of Ohio State’s brand.
The start of a new chapter begins today @Chase. #GoBucks | #ChasePartner pic.twitter.com/CoNsD8csiz
— Ohio State Buckeyes 🌰 (@OhioStAthletics) July 28, 2026
Athletic Director Ross Bjork framed it as a partnership built on shared values, saying it “reflects the strong commercial strength of the Ohio State Athletics identity and the broader college athletics landscape.” The agreement also funnels new resources toward NIL opportunities for student-athletes and opens the door to academic collaboration across the university — classroom visits, mentorships, scholarships, internships, and career fairs.
A central pillar of the partnership is preparing athletes for life after competition, as financial education, advisory support, and dedicated student-athlete financial councils are all part of the package. Jennifer Roberts, CEO of Chase Consumer Banking, pointed to that as the heart of it, noting Chase wants to bring “financial education and resources for student-athletes to exclusive fan experiences and gameday offers.”
JPMorganChase has 18,000 employees in central Ohio and more than 155 years of history in the state. Over the past five years alone, the firm has brought in more than 1,700 Ohio State alumni through its early-careers pipeline. Columbus Location Leader Becky Griffin called it proof of the firm’s “commitment to the people and places we serve.”
Expect new cardholder perks tied to the partnership, such as special ticket offers, gameday savings, and premium experiences designed to deepen the fan connection to the program.
Learfield’s Ohio State Sports Properties, the department’s exclusive multimedia rights holder, brokered the agreement alongside University and Athletics leadership. CEO Cole Gahagan called it a reflection of “the power of the Buckeyes brand and the power of storytelling within college sports.”
At nearly $17 million a year, this isn’t just Ohio State’s biggest branding partnership. It’s a number that puts the Buckeyes ahead of pro sports jersey deals. When a college athletic department can out-earn NBA franchises on a patch deal, it’s proof the Ohio State brand operates in a different tier of the market. JPMorganChase stepped in to form one of the most powerful partnerships in sports.
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Blake Biscardi serves as Co-Founder, Lead Reporter, and Senior Editor of The Silver Bulletin. He hosts the Buckeye Cadence podcast, where he breaks down Ohio State football and basketball with an inside look into the programs. Covering Julian Sayin in New York City in 2025 was his Heisman moment, which became a viral moment in its own right. Biscardi is a member of the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and has degrees in Business Administration and Strategic Communication & Leadership.