Ripple has entered a five-year partnership with the University of Kansas that will place the XRP logo on Jayhawks athletic uniforms. Based on details released by the school and the company, the agreement makes XRP the first cryptocurrency to appear on the jerseys of a major NCAA Division I athletics program.
Kansas Athletics announced the deal after the NCAA approved corporate logos on Division I uniforms in January 2026, with schools allowed to begin displaying them from August 2026. Kansas is now among the first universities to unveil a jersey sponsorship under the new rule.
XRP patch to appear across major Jayhawks programs
According to Kansas Athletics, the XRP patch will be featured on football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, and other Jayhawks uniforms. The agreement was arranged through Learfield and Jayhawk Sports Properties, the group that manages the university’s sponsorship portfolio.
Athletic Director Travis Goff said the partnership reflects a shared commitment to innovation and links Kansas Athletics with the broader technology sector through Ripple. Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse also highlighted the news on X. A Topeka native and University of Kansas economics graduate, he described the deal as a rare point where his professional work and alma mater came together.
Education and career programs included in the agreement
The partnership goes beyond uniform branding. Kansas Athletics said it also covers financial literacy and technology education programs for student-athletes and the wider university community. Ripple also plans to expand career opportunities by connecting Kansas graduates with employers in the technology sector.
The relationship between the two sides was already in place before this announcement. The University of Kansas, through its engineering school, already operates an official XRP Ledger validator, making it an active participant in the XRP ecosystem.
XRP slipped after the news while futures activity rose
Following the announcement, XRP fell 1.55%, according to the released information. At the same time, futures open interest posted a modest increase, pointing to higher trading activity even as the token moved lower.