The University of Tennessee and Adidas announced a department-changing partnership on Wednesday afternoon.
Following the expiration of Tennessee’s partnership with Nike in the summer of 2026, the UT Athletics department will team up with Adidas in a 10-year deal with the tri-stripe brand serving as the official footwear, uniform, apparel and sideline partner” of the Vols.
The partnership will begin on July 1, 2026.
“Our mission is to build the premier athletics department in the country and to lead the way in college sports. Partnering with adidas is an ideal fit, as their mission is to be the best sports brand in the world,” University of Tennessee Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics Danny White said in a UT press release on Wednesday. “There is no denying the resurgence of Tennessee Athletics, powered by the greatest fan base in all of sports. Our strong licensing numbers, impressive television ratings, and sold-out venues all reflect this. adidas recognized our potential and responded with one of the best apparel deals in the history of college sports, prioritizing Vol Nation and the Tennessee brand.”
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In the press release, Tennessee highlights accomplishments such as being the only Power Four school in the nation to send all 20 varsity programs to the postseason for the past two years.
Tennessee won multiple national championships during its previous stint with Adidas (1995-2014), including football (1998) and women’s basketball (2007, 2008).
To commemorate the announcement on Wednesday, Tennessee released a new hype video on social media. The video highlights both the old and new of Tennessee Athletics as it returns to a partnership with Adidas in 2026:
