Nike signs ten-year USC deal

Nike has signed a ten-year deal to outfit USC football and women's basketball with new uniforms and performance bonuses.

Nike plans USC uniforms and performance bonuses

In football, Nike will outfit USC with the Vapor F.U.S.E. chassis for the 2026-27 season, using the same design platform as NFL teams in that year. The package also includes elite cleated silos and a full redesign of the football closet during the first four years, with a minimum of three uniforms. For the women’s basketball program, Nike will provide a minimum of four uniforms and a future redesign, using its latest design systems, with a cash alternative of 2.5 million per uniform.

Nike also includes a broad energy program that involves more than 15 elite programs and a bespoke alt football uniform, with a cash alternative of 10 million. Performance bonuses are listed for both football and basketball tied to championships and playoff appearances, ranging from 10 thousand to 100 thousand depending on the outcome. In women’s basketball, Nike will feature A’ja Wilson as a brand ambassador, including signature sneakers and USC colorways, and will explore related marketing and travel gear. The contract also provides for Nike to redesign the basketball court at Colonial Life Arena, and to offer access to the Nike Sport Research Lab at Beaverton, Oregon. Bonus structures cover baseball and softball as well, with incentives for NCAA appearances and championships.

The deal signals a new model for college sports where brand contracts cover not just uniforms but a broad set of infrastructure and marketing gains. It ties on-field success to cash incentives and anchors USC in a high-profile brand ecosystem that could reshape recruiting and fan engagement. Yet the terms also raise questions about budget priorities on campus and whether such sponsorships widen gaps between programs or improve overall resources for student athletes.

Observers will watch how USC balances this partnership with academic and budgetary constraints, and how fans respond to a deal that blends marketing with competition. The partnership could help USC compete with other top programs in visibility and gear, but it also invites scrutiny over transparency and the long-term cost of exclusive supplier agreements.

Highlights

Time will tell how far this partnership reshapes USC sports and campus priorities