A major shift is coming to Salt Lake City.
The University of Utah has officially announced a seven-year agreement with Adidas that will make the Three Stripes the exclusive footwear, uniform, apparel, and sideline partner for Utes Athletics beginning with the 2027-28 academic year. The move brings an end to Utah’s long-standing relationship with Under Armour, which has outfitted the program since 2008 and served as the school’s department-wide apparel partner since 2011.
This fall will mark the final season of Utah’s 18-year run with Under Armour, closing one of the longest apparel partnerships in major college athletics. The current Under Armour agreement, a 10-year extension signed in 2016 and valued at approximately $65 million, expires in June 2027.
Utah Athletic Director Mark Harlan praised the new partnership, citing Adidas’ commitment to athlete performance, innovation, and fan engagement as key factors in the decision. Adidas North America President John Miller echoed those sentiments, describing Utah as a premier athletic department with growing national prominence.
The move aligns Utah with a growing list of major collegiate programs sporting the Three Stripes, including schools such as Texas Tech, Washington, Miami, Texas A&M, and Penn State.
For sneaker enthusiasts and college football uniform watchers, the change opens the door to an entirely new design direction for the Utes. Adidas has become increasingly aggressive in the collegiate space, often leveraging exclusive footwear, NIL opportunities, and lifestyle-driven apparel collections to strengthen recruiting and fan engagement. Reports indicate Utah’s new agreement will also include NIL-related components.
Interestingly, Adidas isn’t entirely new territory for the Utes. The men’s basketball program wore Adidas from 2007 to 2011 before Utah transitioned to an athletic department-wide deal with Under Armour.
While fans will have to wait until 2027 to see the first Adidas-branded Utah football uniforms take the field, reaction across college football circles has already been strong. Many Utah supporters on social media have welcomed the move, expressing excitement about new uniform possibilities and a fresh look for the program’s next era.
For now, however, one final chapter remains. The Utes will take the field in Under Armour gear one last season before officially ushering in the Adidas era in 2027.
