South Carolina is poised to change its athletic apparel sponsor, with plans to switch from Under Armour to Nike pending approval from the university’s Board of Trustees. This move, confirmed by a source at the University of South Carolina and first reported by The Post and Courier, would end nearly two decades of partnership between Under Armour and the Gamecocks.
Under Armour began outfitting South Carolina in 2007, starting with a football-only agreement worth about $10.8 million annually. In 2016, the school and company agreed to a 10-year deal valued at $71 million, which ranked among the most lucrative apparel agreements in college sports at that time. The current arrangement covers all university athletic programs through June 2026.
Prior to the partnership with Under Armour, South Carolina worked with Russell Athletic under a four-year contract ending in 2007. That contract was reported to pay $450,000 per year and included only four sports.
The upcoming decision would not be South Carolina’s first association with Nike. Historical photos and athletics media guides show that men’s basketball and women’s soccer teams wore Nike apparel during parts of their histories, especially in the early 2000s prior to switching brands.
Converse also featured as an apparel provider for men’s basketball before Nike entered the picture. For women’s soccer, Nike was used until a transition to Under Armour in 2007.
Other brands have appeared throughout the university’s history as well. Archival information shows Reebok supplied shoes for football during a two-year period identified in a 2007 article published by The State newspaper. Converse previously sponsored basketball teams according to a report from 1998, while Adidas uniforms were worn by men’s soccer from the late-1980s through the mid-2000s based on team media guides.
Old photographs of notable South Carolina football players such as Sterling Sharpe and George Rogers often do not display visible brand logos on their jerseys, reflecting changes over time in college sports marketing agreements.
Board approval is expected Friday for the anticipated switch back to Nike.
