The University of Texas broke tradition by adding corporate logos to its football field, a year after Athletic Director Chris Del Conte said he wasn’t considering it.
The addition of Humann logos on the playing field was in large part due to the company’s longtime ties to the university, but the revenue generated certainly won’t hurt, even for one of the most profitable departments in college athletics.
The size of the deal, which is at least the sixth in the Southeastern Conference and involves all 20 Longhorns sports programs, was not disclosed.
Corporate logos on the field alongside school branding is a trend and an important one for schools hungry for money. It started last season after the NCAA voted to overturn a decades-old restriction on commercial sponsor advertisements on the field of play. Schools were clear to add corporate logos at the 50-yard line, with no more than two flanking advertisements elsewhere on the field.
The 2025 season has seen an uptick of corporate field logos after a multibillion-dollar lawsuit settlement allowed each school to share up to $20.5 million in revenue directly with its athletes this school year while doling out millions more in scholarships.
That has pushed schools to find additional revenue streams. The NCAA is considering allowing commercial logos on uniforms next year, but field logos have already taken hold across the country, including at some of the largest, tradition-rich schools in college athletics.
Alabama partnered with the U.S. Navy’s Maritime Industrial Base program to add “Build Giants Alabama” logos on both 25-yard lines. Penn State added field logos in both end zones as part of a deal with Amica Mutual Insurance.
Oklahoma has logos for Riverwind Casino painted across the 25-yard lines, LSU added Venture Global logos at the 25s in Death Valley and South Carolina has logos for machinery company Blanchard Cat on the field at Williams-Brice Stadium.
Auburn used a partnership with timber company YellaWood to add field logos that also honor Hall of Fame coach Pat Dye. The logos at Jordan-Hare Stadium include the YellaWood logo with “Pat Dye Field” at the 25-yard lines.
“We couldn’t function in today’s climate without the quality of boosters and supporters that we have,” Auburn football coach Hugh Freeze says. “We’re blessed here at Auburn to have many great ones that have obviously stepped up and done new things that are a sign of the new climate.”
