Jayhawks Hit the XRP Patch: Ripple Sponsors First NCAA D1 Jersey Deal 🏀

Ripple and the University of Kansas announced a five-year partnership on Wednesday that places the XRP logo on uniforms across Kansas Jayhawks Division 1 athletics, marking the first jersey-patch crypto sponsorship of an NCAA Division 1 collegiate program. The deal takes effect immediately, with XRP branding appearing on the football and basketball jerseys along with all KU uniforms. Kansas Athletics described the agreement as a "groundbreaking partnership," citing a "shared commitment to innovation and excellence" with Ripple. The financial terms of the sponsorship were not disclosed.

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse called the moment a "rare" one for him, framing the deal as a milestone for both the company and college sports. XRP futures rose 1% following the announcement, according to market data cited in coverage of the partnership. The sponsorship extends Ripple's push into mainstream sports marketing, which has previously included deals in Formula 1 and the UFC, and arrives as several crypto firms expand their U.S. college athletics footprint amid shifting regulatory conditions for digital assets.

The partnership grants Ripple prominent visibility across one of the Big 12 Conference's flagship programs, including courtside and stadium placements during nationally televised football and men's basketball games. KU Athletic Director Travis Goff said the agreement would fund new athlete performance and academic resources, though the university did not specify dollar figures. The university also confirmed that the deal complies with updated NCAA name, image and likeness (NIL) and sponsorship guidelines governing cryptocurrency branding in collegiate athletics.

Ripple, the San Francisco-based payments company behind the XRP token, has marketed the asset as a bridge currency for cross-border settlement. The ticker $XRP traded at $2.32 at press time, according to public market data. The Kansas sponsorship marks Ripple's first college-level jersey deal and is structured to renew after the initial five-year term pending review.