Tennessee agrees to apparel deal with adidas, set to leave Nike

As its agreement with Nike gets ready to expire, Tennessee is going back to its former apparel partner. The school agreed to a new deal with adidas, On3’s Brett McMurphy has confirmed, as first reported by ESPN’s Chris Low.

Tennessee left adidas in 2014 to sign with Nike, and the amended deal runs through 2026. Through the partnership, the university is set to receive $1.2 million in base compensation in 2025-26 and $4.5 million in annual product allotment.

UT initially signed its deal with Nike in 2014, and the original contract paid the school $7.6 million through 2022-23. However, the amendment increased that figure to 11.6 million over 11 years and increased the scheduled payment to $1.2 million for the final three years of the agreement, starting in 2023-24.

Tennessee is the latest high-profile addition to adidas’ school partners. The company signed an agreement with Texas A&M in 2022 worth more than $47 million over five years, according to Sports Business Journal, and $3 million per year in base compensation.

Texas Tech also secured a 10-year partnership with adidas in 2024 that includes $50 million in total product allotment. Additionally, former Red Raiders star Patrick Mahomes – who has an endorsement deal with adidas – partnered with the school on an NIL initiative. Six athletes signed with “Team Mahomes” as part of NIL deals.

The inaugural list of “Team Mahomes” athletes included five-star receiver Micah Hudson, USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year NiJaree Canady and women’s basketball leading scorer Jasmine Shavers. Men’s golfer Matthew Comegys, women’s soccer star Sam Courtwright and Freshman All-American baseball player TJ Pompey rounded out the group.

Full terms of the endorsement contracts were not made available; however, the six athletes participated in brand marketing campaigns. That included marketing Mahomes’ signature shoe and apparel line with adidas.