Penn State running back Quinton Martin could be a foundational piece of the Nittany Lions' future, after a strong performance in the Pinstripe Bowl. (Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images)
College Football has radically changed over the past decade, and Penn State Football may see a big change coming soon.
From the transfer portal to NIL payments and now to sponsorships everywhere, even on team jerseys, the sport of college football is becoming more commercialized than ever.
New Reality: Why NIL Demands a Penn State Football Jersey Sponsor
While Penn State Football has one of the most iconic jerseys in college football and has kept the iconic uniforms relatively unchanged for over a century, the money that Penn State can bring in with the recent rule changes to allow sponsorships on jersey patches will likely be too much to pass up in the NIL era.
Now the question remains, however, of which sponsorship Penn State will choose for a jersey patch ahead of the 2026 season.
Penn State’s newest sponsor, revealed on graphics ahead of this spring’s Blue-White practice, could fit as a jersey sponsor for next season.
Altoona Connection: Is Sheetz the Frontrunner for the Jersey Patch?
Penn State released graphics advertising for the Nittany Lions‘ annual Blue-White spring practice open to the public last week. Penn State announced that the annual spring spectacle for the Nittany Lions football team will be held at Beaver Stadium at 1 pm on Saturday, April 25. The annual open-to-the-public event this year has a few new elements under head coach Matt Campbell than it had in previous years under former head coach James Franklin.
First, the event is now being called an open practice rather than a scrimmage or game as it has in years past.
Second, and more importantly for this article, the game is now being “presented by Sheetz.”
Regional Roots and Fan Loyalty: The Case for Sheetz
Sheetz makes sense as a sponsor for Penn State, being a regional fast food and gas empire with roots in central Pennsylvania. Sheetz first opened in Altoona, Pennsylvania, approximately 45 minutes from State College and Penn State’s main campus, and has kept its corporate facilities in central Pennsylvania since 1952. It also has plenty of brand recognition among Penn State fans with multiple locations in State College and throughout Pennsylvania.
All that being said, it would make sense for Sheetz to be Penn State’s jersey patch sponsorship heading into the 2026 season.
While there is real debate among Penn State fans from different parts of Pennsylvania whether Sheetz or Wawa is better, the branding and central Pennsylvania roots would make Sheetz a worthy jersey patch sponsor.
The Rivalry Factor: Could Wawa or Hershey Steal the Spotlight?
If Sheetz’s sponsorship of Penn State does not extend to the jersey patch this season, what other companies could make sense as a fit on the Nittany Lions’ iconic jersey?
Here are a few options:
The Hershey Company: Global Recognition with Central PA Soul
The world-famous chocolate company Hershey, another company that started in central Pennsylvania, would make sense as a jersey patch for Penn State.
The Hershey Company has been headquartered in Hershey, Pennsylvania, 100 miles from Penn State’s campus, for over 130 years, and is a widely recognized brand not only in the State of Pennsylvania, but across the country.
Wawa vs. Sheetz: Taking the Pennsylvania “Gas Station War” to the Gridiron
What better way to fuel the Wawa Sheetz rivalry than Wawa getting in a sponsorship war with Sheetz?
With Sheetz sponsoring at least Penn State’s Blue and White practice weekend, Wawa could one-up its Pennsylvania rival by sponsoring Penn State’s jersey patch this season.
There is already plenty of debate among eastern and western Pennsylvanians over which chain is better, and this would take the rivalry to another level.
Protecting Tradition: Can Penn State Afford to Say No to Sponsorships?
While the option remains open that Penn State will not include any sponsorships on its iconic jerseys next season, the amount of money Penn State spent on James Franklin’s buyout and is committed to on both the stadium renovation and NIL to be competitive for years in the future suggests that this option is very unlikely.
The question is now when Penn State will reveal which jersey patch sponsor will be on the Nittany Lions’ iconic Basic Blues next season.
Loved this story? Get all our Penn State football coverage and insider updates first. Join our FREE newsletter — your front-row seat to the Lions.
About the Author
