Adidas reportedly provided the Tennessee Vols with an important assurance in new apparel deal

On Wednesday, the Tennessee Vols announced that the program is switching apparel providers.

For the last decade, Nike has been the official apparel provider for Tennessee athletics. That partnership will end when the Vols switch to Adidas beginning July 1, 2026.

Nike was the more popular choice among fans, but the deal with Adidas was simply too good for Tennessee to pass up.

According to a report from the Knoxville News Sentinel's Adam Sparks, the deal with Adidas will provide Tennessee with an "NIL boost, national campaigns for UT athletes, signature shoes, and more".

Sparks also reported that Tennessee received an important assurance from Adidas while negotiating the deal.

Tennessee will design its uniforms in house while collaborating with Adidas.

“From day one of these conversations, Adidas has assured us that the existing design ethos of Tennessee athletics is critically important to their ambitions for our brand,” said Alicia Longworth, UT deputy AD/chief marketing officer, to the Knoxville News Sentinel.

Sparks' reporting confirms what VolQuest's Brent Hubbs said earlier this spring about the potential design process with Adidas.

One of the biggest concerns Vols fans have expressed about the switch to Adidas is the uniform design. After all, the end of Tennessee's previous partnership with Adidas delivered some not-so-savory designs.