UCLA has reportedly joined Cal as the latest Pac-12 school to join Under Armour's growing presence in college sports. According to ESPN, the school's shoe and apparel contract is worth a record-breaking $280 million over 15 years.
That figure, if true, tops 15-year deals Nike signed with Ohio State ($252 million) and Texas ($250 million) in the last eight months. Both of those deals came after Michigan made its move to Nike in July 2015 for a reported $169 million, then the richest apparel deal in college sports.
With the addition of UCLA, Cal and Notre Dame in the last three years, Under Armour is becoming more of a player in the college sports apparel scene. No longer a unique brand worn by Maryland (UA's home base), Auburn, South Carolina, Texas Tech and others, Under Armour appears to be using the success in other sports -- the success of brand ambassadors Steph Curry, Cam Newton and Jordan Spieth hasn't hurt -- to help take a chunk out of the competition at the college level.
UCLA has been an Adidas school since 1999. The basketball program has been one of the most recognizable outlets, frequently receiving the latest alternate uniforms rolled out in time for March Madness (when the Bruins are in the tournament, at least). The football team had some great "LA Midnight" uniforms for night games in recent years, but since flashy alternates are everywhere in college football these days, I don't think this move is the end of exploring the potential combinations of UCLA's color scheme.
Colleague Dennis Dodd suggested Tuesday that former UCLA head coach and current analyst Rick Neuheisel is a fan of the move.
Rick Neuheisel talking now on Sirius/XM how he wooed Kevin Plank re Under Armour for UCLA.
— Dennis Dodd (@dennisdoddcbs) May 24, 2016
