Rice ditches Adidas, announces apparel deal with Nike
Rice student-athletes, coaches and fans will don new threads starting in 2026.
According to a press release issued Monday, the university will partner with Nike as the official outfitter of Rice Athletics ahead of the 2026-27 academic year. Rice also announced that Game One will become the official uniform, apparel and footwear supplier of the athletic program.
In addition to the press release, Rice revealed the new partnership with a video posted across social media. This video is how redshirt junior running back Quinton Jackson first received the news.
“I was pretty excited,” Jackson said. “When you think about Nike, you think about all the amazing athletes that Nike has signed, like Michael Jordan and LeBron James. I was a Nike kid growing up, so I was very excited for a partnership.”
Jackson added that he believes the strength of Nike’s brand, track record and global influence will bring additional notoriety to Rice. As of 2021, Nike was the primary apparel partner for 52.3% of the Division I FBS programs, as well as 60% of Power 5 programs. The company’s $37.6 billion brand value in 2024 ranked second among all fashion brands, only behind Louis Vuitton.
Sophomore guard Aniah Alexis was making breakfast when the news broke. One of Alexis’ teammates informed her of the new Nike partnership, and she started jumping up and down in excitement.
“I think Nike is the most-known brand in sports, so it’s a privilege for us to transition to Nike,” Alexis said.
Monday’s announcement represents a major shakeup for Rice Athletics, which has been outfitted by Adidas since 2013.
Vice President and Director of Athletics Tommy McClelland said that several major apparel brands approached Rice about a potential partnership before the university settled on Nike.
“The power of the Nike brand is unmatched, and outfitting our men and women in their apparel is another step in our mission to provide a best-in-class experience for our student-athletes,” McClelland said.
Although the financial terms of the new partnership were not disclosed, Randy McIlvoy of KPRC posted on X that the agreement begins July 1, 2026 and is set to last seven years.
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