Thanks to the House v. NCAA settlement, collegiate athletics is entering a new era in which direct athlete payments are officially part of the game. However, with that comes a $20.5 million price tag that the school now needs to meet to keep its players paid and happy.
Like many others, LSU is seeking every dollar it can. The latest plan includes jersey patch ads. The Tigers want to turn their favourite game-day gear into prime advertising real estate. If the NCAA gives the go-ahead, LSU is ready to roll. While the university is busy mapping out the details, not everybody is happy with the idea.
Despite the Need, LSU Fans Push Back on Brian Kelly’s Jersey Patch Plan
LSU has already greenlit ads on its 25-yard lines this fall, and the Tigers aren’t stopping there. Pending NCAA approval, the school hopes to slap sponsor patches across jerseys. Clay Harris, the athletic director for revenue generation, believes it could bring in “multiple millions” per year.
NEW: LSU plans to sell jersey patch advertisements, pending NCAA approval, @NOLAnews reports👀https://t.co/m9OUXZRIVe pic.twitter.com/LAHVhYPr8b
— On3 (@On3sports) July 2, 2025
LSU’s also trimmed $3 million in expenses, which can’t work long-term. “We don’t want to have this as some crazy, NASCAR-like situation,” LSU’s athletic administrator, Cody Worsham, tried to assure fans while speaking to NOLA.
Unfortunately, LSU fans aren’t buying it.“Oh boy… Gonna look like NASCAR out there before we know it,” one user wrote on X, firing back.
Netizens seem to think that football jerseys will soon become race suits, with athletes thanking sponsors. Another went on to add, “Oh, good. Make them look like NASCAR drivers in a race suit. After a big win, they can thank Pizza Hut, Verizon, and their other sponsors. It’s gonna be great, said no one ever!”
The backlash is not just playful jabs. It is emotional, and LSU fans are worried about the sanctity of the game being lost in the process. “They are ruining a very special part of the sport,” one fan lamented. College football has never been about just wins.
It is always an amalgamation of tradition and undying support. Untouched jerseys, pride in school colours, and yes, names on the back, not brands, are simply sacrosanct. “So instead of their names on the back of the jersey, they are going to have the logo of the children’s hospital they ripped off to illegally pay players?” wrote another frustrated fan.
That stinger refers to LSU’s past NIL-related controversies, and fans haven’t forgotten. The controversy involving LSU and the Children’s Hospital traces back to John Paul Funes, the former head of the Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital Foundation. Funes was imprisoned after being found guilty of embezzling more than $500,000 from the nonprofit.
Another fan adding fuel to the fire wrote, “Which hospital are y’all currently stealing from?” The fandom is not forgetting this one easily because what made headlines in the college football world was that a portion of those misappropriated funds allegedly ended up in the hands of families connected to LSU football players.
The incident eventually became a focal point in a broader NCAA investigation into the university’s football program and compliance practices. Netizens seem to think that jersey patches will be yet another issue. Another fan wrote, “I have a deep personal hatred for the NCAA already; they better not allow this.”
Still, LSU is standing by the decisions. Officials are eyeing alternative funding, too. They are renegotiating their Nike deal, cashing in on a massive College Football Playoff rights package, and trimming travel costs for non-revenue sports. But for now, jersey patches remain front and centre.
“CFB is turning into the NBA and MLB… just sad at this point,” wrote another fan. LSU Basketball has already implemented the court ads, and football is just catching up. “Leave it to Brian Kelly to ruin college football,” added another.
Even with Ed Orgeron’s buyout soon disappearing, the need to find a sustainable income method is quintessential. LSU wants to stay competitive and reach its full $20.5 million. While the fandom might not love the idea, there is no denying that it could be a sustainable source of income.