In a significant brand shake-up, the University of Tennessee has officially ended its apparel partnership with Nike and entered a new agreement with Adidas. The move brings the Volunteers back into the Adidas family, a brand the university proudly wore from the mid-1990s until 2014.

The switch marks both a return to tradition and a new chapter for Tennessee Athletics. Adidas previously outfitted Tennessee’s football, basketball, and Olympic sports programs for nearly two decades before the program transitioned to Nike.

This renewed partnership is expected to impact not only the look and feel of Tennessee’s uniforms but also recruiting, merchandising, and national brand positioning. With NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) now playing a pivotal role in college athletics, strategic apparel partnerships carry more weight than ever.

While some fans may miss the Nike swoosh, others are celebrating the return of the iconic three stripes. Either way, Tennessee is making a clear statement: the Vols are moving forward—by returning to their roots.