With Ohio State reportedly the 26th school to forge a jersey patch deal that will see the school rake in millions of dollars every year, the question is not when Nebraska will join the growing trend, but when? That question is quickly followed by “who?” As in who will make an offer the Huskers can’t refuse? And finally, when that deal is struck, how will it sit with fans as far as fit?
Some of those questions are more important than others. Right at the top of the list is how much money they can get. Ohio State’s deal, announced on Monday, didn’t come with an official price tag, but reports are that the Buckeyes will get $17 million per year. Not only that, but the agreement with JPMorgan Chase offers the possibility of NIL deals for the university’s athletes.
So who will Nebraska get to do a similar deal? Can they get that much money with anyone? And of the companies that Husker fans see as a “fit” how many have the money that it would be worth doing a jersey patch? The answer to the latter question is likely “not that many.”
There’s obviously been some Nebraska-centric companies that have been bandied about since these jersey patches first became a thing. Runza has been one that’s been talked about the most, as it’s a popular and iconic restaurant. It, however, doesn’t seem to have the kind of financial backing that could make it a real player in this market.
Nebraska football faces jersey patch pressure after Ohio State’s $17 million deal
Keep in mind, when Ohio State struck its deal for a jersey patch with JPMorgan Chase, the dollar amount was estimated to be about $17 million annually. While Runza would be a great fit if the deals were a bit smaller, it’s unlikely a local company that does almost no business outside the state could offer up that kind of cash.
One place where the Huskers could turn would be a company like Mutual of Omaha. While it started out as a local company, it’s certainly one that operates all over the country and even overseas. Though even saying that, it’s not entirely clear if they’d have the money to hang with some of the biggest contracts in the sport.
The long and short of it is that some Nebraska fans aren’t going to like whatever patch deal the Huskers strike. It’s important to note that in this current era, NU needs to do something to keep pace with the Ohio State’s of the world.
There’s been plenty of talk about how Nebraska doesn’t measure up with the biggest and the best in the conference and the nation. To hang with those schools, the Huskers are going to need to sign a deal with the highest bidder, and fans should gird their loins to not like it at all.
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