Gophers football adds commercial logo to helmet bumpers

The Minnesota athletic department is adding a commercial sticker to its football helmets starting with the upcoming game against Mississippi State at Huntington Bank Stadium. The branding for the mobile carrier Visible will appear on the rear helmet bumper, marking a new revenue stream for the program. The NCAA recently updated regulations to allow limited commercial logos on equipment and apparel, prompting several programs to explore new sponsorship agreements. This change occurs as the department addresses an estimated $9 million budget deficit for the 2027 fiscal year and navigates rising costs associated with the House vs. NCAA settlement. While the Gophers move forward with the helmet sticker, athletic director Mark Coyle indicated the school is also pursuing a jersey patch sponsorship deal. Other Big Ten programs, including Ohio State, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Michigan State, have previously entered into similar commercial uniform agreements.

• 4:21 PMYahoo Sports — Minnesota inks first helmet bumper ad sponsorship deal with Verizon’s Visible
• 3:10 PMYahoo Sports — Gophers football adds new commercial logo on helmets