Expect these types of deals to become the norm, too, as universities seek every competitive advantage against one another.

In its announcement, Tennessee said that Adidas would provide "unprecedented" NIL opportunities for athletes across all 20 of the school's varsity sports. In fact, Adidas will immediately start working toward securing NIL deals with Tennessee athletes during the 2025-26 athletic season.

That’s the reality behind the Volunteers’ upcoming apparel switch from the Swoosh to Adidas' three stripes, according to longtime Tennessee insider Wes Rucker. After 12 years with Nike, Tennessee’s contract gave the brand the right to counter any competing offer — and they didn’t.