Notre Dame is, without question, one of the most valuable brands in college athletics with fans that literally span from coast to coast, and also stretch globally.
The Fighting Irish brand may soon be up for grabs too, according to a report this morning from Ross Dellenger.
After the 2024 season, the Irish's 10-year deal with Under Armour - worth about $90 million - is set to expire, and the Irish's exclusive negotiating window with the brand has now expired, Dellenger shares.
With that exclusive negotiating window closed, there's a possibility that Notre Dame ends up sticking with Under Armour, but it also opens the door to previous apparel provider Adidas coming back into the picture, or even Nike and their deep pockets making a run at the Irish.
At the time Notre Dame entered their original deal, it was widely believed to be the largest apparel deal in the history of college athletics.
As a college athletics brand, no company has gotten a black eye quite like Under Armour has over the last few years.
UA has backed out of contract deals with teams like Hawai'i, Boston College, UCLA and Cincinnati the past few seasons.
The Baltimore-based brand bought out their contract with the Bruins to the tune of $65 million just a few short years into their monster 15-year deal worth $280 million - which took over Notre Dame's spot as the largest apparel deal in college athletics history in 2016.
If they were to lose Notre Dame to a competitor, their grip on college football would loosen significantly, with Auburn, Maryland, Utah, Wisconsin, Northwestern, and South Carolina the lone remaining Power Five programs wearing the UA logo on Saturdays in the fall.
By letting the exclusive negotiating window close on one of the most valuable brands in sports, will UA allow Adidas or Nike to come in and snatch the Irish away?