Overview

• Yahoo Sports' Ross Dellenger reports Division I commissioners were recently briefed and that legislation to permit uniform patches is expected in place for the 2026 college football season.
• Stakeholders are debating whether the NCAA, conferences, or individual schools will set and enforce standards, with broad support for limits on the number of patches to avoid overexposure.
• Existing apparel contracts with Nike, Adidas and Under Armour prohibit third‑party branding on uniforms, signaling the need for renegotiations or carve‑outs before patches appear.
• Learfield is preparing a Performance Partner Alliance initiative to package and sell patch inventory for its partner schools in anticipation of a rule change.
• Preliminary valuations cited by Learfield estimate deals ranging from roughly $500,000 to $12 million per year per program, with NBA patch revenue serving as a reference point.