The University of South Carolina is preparing for a major shift in its athletics branding.
GamecockCentral has confirmed that USC will move away from Under Armour and partner with Nike as its new official athletics apparel provider. The news was first reported Thursday by The Post and Courier’s David Cloninger.
On Friday, USC’s Board of Trustees will convene, with one of the key agenda items being a vote on an “athletics apparel agreement.”
South Carolina has been aligned with Under Armour since 2007, extending that deal in 2016 on a contract that runs through June 30, 2026. The expectation is that the school’s new agreement with Nike will take effect immediately after that deal expires.
Both Athletics Director Jeremiah Donati and Deputy AD Wesley Mallette have strong ties to Nike from previous roles. While serving as AD at TCU, Donati oversaw the Horned Frogs’ renewal with Nike. Mallette, during his time at UC-Riverside, helped secure the program’s first Nike/BSN Sports partnership.
Still, fans won’t see the famous Nike swoosh on USC uniforms right away. “Friday’s vote will not mean that the 2025-2026 school year will see the Gamecocks in new uniforms,” per the University. Instead, the change will debut with the 2026-2027 season, once the Under Armour deal officially concludes.
Further details about South Carolina’s upcoming Nike agreement are expected to be released following Friday’s Board of Trustees meeting, which is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. The board will also finalize Mallette’s contract with the school at that time.
