Rule change provides University of Tennessee with uniform patch sponsorships for companies

The University of Tennessee becomes one of dozens of schools in collegiate sports to agree to a sponsorship deal that will allow patches on the uniforms of men’s and women’s basketball teams beginning this year.

Knoxville-based Axel Logistics, a third-party company that outsources jobs like shipping and warehousing, came to an agreement with UT for a total $15 million deal that keeps the Axel name on players and on the court for five years.

The new look Vols will debut the patch at an October 15th exhibition at Food City Center against Xavier.

A rule change by the NCAA allowed the corporate opportunity and other schools like Notre Dame, Ohio State, and LSU have already locked in sponsorships for the upcoming football season.

There was no word on if Axel patches will be included on the jerseys of Tennessee’s 20 teams.

(IMAGES: Property of University of Tennessee Knoxville / Axel Logistics)