Head coach Lane Kiffin’s highly publicized arrival to Louisiana State University isn’t the only major news coming out of Baton Rouge this month.
Nike announced Thursday that it’s agreed to a long-term extension with the LSU Tigers that will see the school’s athletes wear the Swoosh through 2036. The Beaverton, Ore.-based sportswear company and the Louisiana college have been partners since 1995, meaning the latest extension will see the sponsorship span over five decades.
Beyond the school-wide partnership extension, also announced was Nike Blue Ribbon Elite, a new NIL program which the sportswear company says will provide “schools and athletes an unmatched level of collaboration that prioritizes the future of sport and athlete identity.”
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“LSU and Nike are two of the top brands in sport and an ideal duo,” Verge Ausberry, director of athletics at LSU, said in a press release. “We are both continuously looking to innovate and stay ahead of the game, and that’s what we intend to do in the future with this extended partnership. LSU has always been at the forefront of NIL strategy, and as the launchpad for Nike Blue Ribbon Elite, we look forward to working with Nike to offer our student-athletes unrivaled opportunities to capitalize on their brands.”
To emphasize its commitment to students, Nike announced new NIL deals for 10 LSU athletes spanning multiple disciplines. Included in the latest group are basketball players ZaKiyah Johnson and Dedan Thomas Jr., baseball players Derek Curiel and Casan Evans, football players Trey’Dez Green and DJ Pickett, gymnast Kailin Chio, softball players Tori Edwards and Jayden Heavener and volleyball player Jurnee Robinson.
These additions brings Nike’s NIL roster to nearly 50 names. In November, Nike, Inc. announced its Jordan Brand Basketball Class of 2025 which included Kiyan Anthony, Cameron Boozer, Cayden Boozer and Sarah Strong.
Named after the sportswear giant’s original name, Blue Ribbon Sports, Nike says the Blue Ribbon Elite program will emphasize brand campaigns, product innovation and creative direction.
“Renewing our partnership with LSU and welcoming 10 new NIL athletes is about more than gear,” said Ann Miller, executive vice president of global sports marketing at Nike. It’s about collaboration, creativity and meaningful impact, giving athletes a platform to influence product, innovation, storytelling and culture.”
