Utah Athletics announces new apparel partnership with adidas
Jun 24, 2026, 3:19 PM | Updated: 6:22 pm
Dec 28, 2024; Tucson, AZ, USA; Detailed view of an official Adidas NCAA football on the field during the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
SALT LAKE CITY — The University of Utah announced on Wednesday that it has entered into a new partnership with adidas, bringing one of the world’s largest athletic brands to Salt Lake City, after ending the school’s longstanding relationship with Under Armour.
The agreement, which will begin ahead of the 2027-28 athletic year, provides Adidas with exclusive rights to supply uniforms, footwear, apparel and sideline gear for Utah’s athletic programs. Utah will partner on a seven-year deal starting July 1, 2027, and the partnership includes an NIL component, financial terms were not disclosed in the release.
Under the agreement, all Utah athletes will be eligible to be part of adidas’ NIL Ambassador Network. That will provide them opportunities to cash in through NIL deals, meaning they would be able to represent the Three Stripes during games.
“The University of Utah strives for excellence in all that we do, and we are fortunate to have a world-class partner like adidas who also believes in the pursuit of excellence,” Utah Director of Athletics Mark Harlan said. “adidas has an innovative spirit, a keen understanding of the power of sports and of the needs of athletes, and in this new era of intercollegiate athletics, we couldn’t ask for a better partner. I am grateful to the adidas team for their commitment to serving our Utah student-athletes and for creating unique licensed apparel that will energize our fans and supporters.”
Adidas is more than a logo change
“The University of Utah has established a premier athletic program that commands national respect and shares adidas’ commitment to elevating student-athlete performance and fan experiences. We are proud to partner with the Utes and are excited about what we can accomplish together in the years to come,” said John Miller, adidas President, North America.
While apparel partnerships are often discussed in financial terms, their impact extends well beyond the balance sheet.
Recruiting, merchandise sales, fan engagement and program branding have become increasingly important components of modern apparel agreements. Adidas has invested heavily in collegiate athletics in recent years, building partnerships with several prominent Power Four programs and expanding its footprint across the country.
For Utah, the agreement provides access to one of the most recognizable brands in sports while creating new opportunities to refresh and modernize the Utes’ visual identity.
That refresh is expected to be noticeable, though not dramatic. Among the priorities throughout the design process will be preserving and highlighting Utah’s established identity.
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The total value commitment makes the explosive wing scorer’s Adidas contract a Top 5 richest rookie shoe deal in NBA history, per sources. pic.twitter.com/EIiwC52Sj4
— Nick DePaula (@NickDePaula) June 24, 2026
A fresh look for Utah in a new era
Sources familiar with the transition indicated Utah intends to maintain the core elements that have defined the program’s look while introducing updated uniform concepts and design elements that better reflect the program’s future direction.
The interlocking U logo will remain a central part of the program’s branding, but the university is also expected to place renewed emphasis on the iconic drum-and-feather logo, one of the most recognizable marks in school history.
Rather than replacing one with the other, the goal is expected to be finding ways to feature both throughout the uniform lineup and broader athletic department branding.
The partnership will provide Utah with extensive customization opportunities as new uniforms are developed.
Football head coach Morgan Scalley and athletic department leadership are expected to have significant input throughout the design process, allowing the university to shape a look that reflects Utah’s traditions while introducing a new visual identity under the Adidas banner.
The transition process will begin almost immediately. With apparel production timelines extending well in advance of competition, Utah and Adidas are expected to spend the coming months finalizing designs, sizing requirements and uniform orders for the 2027 season.
Sources indicated the initial rollout will likely be measured rather than all up front. Instead of unveiling a large collection of alternate uniforms immediately, Utah is expected to launch with a smaller group of primary uniform combinations before gradually expanding the wardrobe over time.
The long-term vision is expected to include additional jersey, helmet and uniform combinations that provide flexibility while remaining rooted in the program’s traditional colors and branding.
In short, fans should expect a new look — but one that still feels unmistakably Utah.
Positioning for the Future
The Adidas agreement is the latest example of Utah’s efforts to strengthen its position in a rapidly changing college athletics landscape.
Over the past several years, the university has invested heavily in facilities, embraced innovative business initiatives and explored new ways to enhance its competitive standing nationally.
Now, with a new apparel partner in place, Utah adds another piece to that broader strategy.
The uniforms may look different when the Utes take the field in 2027, but the objective remains the same: building a brand capable of competing at the highest level of college athletics.
The Bottom Line
For fans, the most immediate takeaway is simple: the Under Armour era is ending, and the Adidas era is beginning.
The uniforms won’t be unrecognizable, nor should they be. Utah has one of the strongest visual identities in college athletics, and preserving that tradition appears to be a major priority. But this partnership creates an opportunity to modernize the brand, elevate the drum-and-feather logo, expand uniform options and give the program a fresh look entering a new era.
