It seems the kids no longer want to wear the highly recognizable Nike swoosh. Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith has become the latest college star to pass on Nike, signing an NIL (name, image and likeness) deal with rival Adidas instead. “One of the most memorable moments from last season was losing my black stripe and officially becoming a Buckeye,” the 19-year-old wideout said Wednesday in a press release (h/t Elizabeth Swinton of Sports Illustrated). “Fast forward a year and I’m blessed to be adding three, joining the fastest brand in football. It’s crazy to be partnering with a brand that has such a talented roster of players and that I’ve been wearing since I was a young kid. We’re not done yet.” This is another huge loss for Nike, which failed to sign Cooper Flagg —the No. 1 overall pick of the 2025 NBA Draft — last year. The former Duke Blue Devils forward (now with the Dallas Mavericks) signed a multiyear deal with New Balance in August 2024. Like most NIL contracts, the details of SRead More
Ohio State superstar’s new NIL deal shows Nike might be losing its luster
