Tennessee athletics’ contract with Nike expires in 2026, and the university is mulling different brand options, Knox News has learned.
It’s a divisive debate among UT fans.
Some fans forget the 1998 national title football team wore Adidas. They instead recall awkward designs and bad memories of UT football losing late in the Adidas era, which ended with the 2014 season.Other fans argue that a new apparel contract could bolster athletic department revenues and therefore help fund rising pay for players.
UT is exploring its options. No decisions have been made, and there’s plenty of time of negotiate.
Nike is scheduled to pay Tennessee $1.2 million in base compensation in 2025-26, with an annual product allotment of $4.5 million. UT gets an annual Nike ELITE credit of $100,000 for the athletics department and an additional $100,000 for football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball and administration.
Here’s why Tennessee is looking at other brands
Per the contract, UT and Nike began negotiations for extending the deal in late 2024. But that exclusive negotiating window ended March 30.
Here’s the status of Tennessee’s Nike contract
UT’s contract with Nike as its official apparel supplier expires on June 30, 2026, according to the amendment provided by the university to Knox News upon request.
The deal was initially set to run through 2023, but former athletics director Dave Hart signed an extension through the 2025-26 academic year.
