Notre Dame: College football’s most valuable brand is single

Notre Dame could be switching it up with apparel companies sooner rather than later.

Notre Dame is single, and wants to mingle.

Well, sort of. The iconic college football brand is in the final year of its apparel deal with Under Armour. Ross Dellenger of Sports Illustrated reported their exclusive negotiating window with Under Armour has expired. Given that Under Armour has gotten out of its deals with UCLA, Cal and Boston College, we could see a major bidding war between Nike and Adidas for the Fighting Irish.

Notre Dame could re-up with Under Armour, but it feels like they are going to be moving on here.

Notre Dame could be an Adidas or a Nike school after Under Armour deal expires

This may be more important when it comes to the hardwood, as players tend to gravitate towards programs based on their shoes. It has been that way in hoops for a long time, and don’t expect for that to change. However, we could be seeing the Fighting Irish raking in upwards of $10 million in average annual value in the terms of their new apparel deal. Multiple bidders means big time cash.

While this new apparel deal potentially coming down the pipeline won’t taste as sweet as that NBC standalone contract for all Golden Domer home games, every little bit of revenue counts in building an athletic department empire. The Irish don’t need to join a Power Five league in football, but they do need to link up with a strong apparel company that can pay them what they are worth.

Overall, you could totally see the Irish rake in more coin than Texas does from Nike or Kansas does from Adidas. Because they were with Under Armour for so long, it remains to be seen which direction athletic director Jack Swarbrick and company will want to go in. I don’t think they can go wrong with either apparel company, but all sports must be taken into account with this decision.

Ultimately, this is all about whether Notre Dame wants to be seen as an Adidas school or a Nike school on the basketball side of things. Where they stand in the ACC pecking order might be more indicative in the manner in which they decide to go. Having either a swoosh or a triple triangle looking thing will look great on NBC broadcasts, but this is all about those basketball shoes, man.

You do not see a major athletic brand hit the open market in terms of its apparel every day, y’all.