Would fans be ok with a Michigan Football corporate jersey patch?

Last week, we asked fans if they’d be ok with the Michigan football program having corporate patches on their jerseys. The results are in.

Only 31% of fans said they would be ok with Michigan adding a corporate jersey patch. Teams such as LSU, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Oklahoma State and over a dozen other programs have corporate sponsorship patch deals.

Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel said the athletic department is “exploring new revenue assets that are highly visible but thoughtfully integrated,” including jersey patches, onfield, on-court logos and in-game sponsorships and scoreboard advertising. In short, corporate patches are coming and it wouldn’t be surprising if a deal is inked before the 2026 season begins in September.

While 69% of voters will be disappointed if and when Michigan has a corporate patch on their jerseys, it’s likely inevitable. The NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS and WNBA all have corporate jersey patches while the NFL does not. Corporate sponsors have become the norm, and at this point, it will never slow down.

How lucrative a deal can Michigan land as one of the premier college brands? Michigan is just a couple of years removed from winning a national championship in football and is one of the most-watched teams on television. Per FanDuel Sportsbook, Michigan currently has the fifth-highest odds of winning the Big Ten this season at +1400.