Thursday, April 9, 2026

Ohio State Merch Sales Spike 550% Ahead of National Championship

Merchandise sales for the Buckeyes’ NIL Store exploded after they beat the Texas Longhorns on Friday night.

Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end Jack Sawyer (33) knocks the ball out of the hands of Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers (3) and returns the fumble for a touchdown in the fourth quarter of the Cotton Bowl Classic during the College Football Playoff semifinal game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on January, 10, 2025.
Imagn Images

Ohio State is no stranger to national championships. The Buckeyes won the first-ever national title of the four-team College Football Playoff in 2024, and they are now about to play in the first game of the 12-team era. 

But that doesn’t mean their fans are sick of buying merchandise to commemorate the occasion.

Merchandise sales for the Buckeyes’ NIL Store exploded after they beat the Texas Longhorns on Friday night, surging 550% in the three days following the game, according to data provided to Front Office Sports by an NIL Store spokesperson. The Buckeyes’ overall sales also shot up from the eighth-most popular storefront to the most popular for the month of January.

In previous years, a playoff run could translate to teams and athletic departments cashing in from jersey sales. But in the era of name, image, and likeness, the players can, too. The NIL Store, created by the custom apparel brand Campus Ink, doesn’t sell formal uniform merchandise—instead, it partners with athletic departments and players on custom apparel to commemorate viral moments or showcase players’ personalities. 

The merch drop powering Ohio State’s success includes a line of T-shirts showcasing defensive end Jack Sawyer’s fumble recovery and touchdown return that helped solidify the Buckeyes’ title game appearance. The line was available by noon on Saturday, and included a sweatshirt, T-shirt, and long-sleeve with the phrase “Scoop ’ Score” emblazoned across the chest. They also include photos of Sawyer and smaller text saying “83 yards to the house,” as well as the final score. 

In the three days following the matchup, 66.1% of all Ohio State merchandise sales came from Sawyer’s “Scoop N’ Score” merchandise.

Sawyer’s other custom merchandise, including a line called “Captain Jack”—referring to his status as a team captain—also shot up in merchandise sales. Including this line, Sawyer’s apparel has accounted for 77.2% of all Ohio State merchandise.

Sawyer has shot past all other custom player merchandise lines in popularity, and is second only to the “Boogeyman” line for Heisman Trophy finalist and Boise State star Ashton Jeanty.

A spokesperson for the NIL Store declined to release data on how much the players have earned, but prices range from $35.99 to $64.99—and players get a slice of all the profits. “Thanks for supporting Jack Sawyer!” the website reads. “Every purchase puts money directly into Jack’s pocket!”

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

NFL: Denver Broncos at Washington Commanders

Top Sports Attorneys Command $10M Salaries Amid Poaching Frenzy

“The transfer portal is open for sports lawyers.”

NFL Faces DOJ Investigation With Media-Rights Battle Heating Up

Washington’s growing scrutiny of the league is deeply layered.

NFL Targets OTAs, Minicamps for Replacement Refs Rollout

The league takes further steps to prepare a group of alternates.

Men’s March Madness Title Game Draws 18.3M Viewers, Up 23%

Michigan’s title win completes an emphatic run of audience increases.

Featured Today

College Athletes Are Ignoring NCAA Gambling Bans

“We were going to bet regardless,” says one former D-I athlete.
April 8, 2026

Why Did FIFA Do a Deal With an Obscure Prediction Market?

The product is scheduled to launch on Thursday.
Mar 28, 2026; Houston, TX, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini forward David Mirkovic (0) and center Tomislav Ivisic (13) react in the second half against the Iowa Hawkeyes during an Elite Eight game of the South Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Toyota Center.
April 4, 2026

Loopholes Enable Int’l College Basketball Players to Cash In

Schools have scrambled to find a way to compensate international players.
April 1, 2026

‘The Sonics Never Died’: The Long Afterlife of Seattle NBA Merch

Inside “the largest team shop for a team that doesn’t exist.” 
exclusive

Sky, Sparks Close to Ariel Atkins–Rickea Jackson Trade

Atkins can sign a deal with the Sparks worth $1.19 million.
Apr 14, 2024; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Tiger Woods reacts to his putt on the 16th green during the final round of the Masters Tournament.
April 7, 2026

Masters Stars Feel Unprecedented Absence of Tiger and Phil

This is the first Masters since 1994 without both Woods and Mickelson.
Apr 9, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) walks on to the court before the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Los Angeles Lakers during the first quarter at the American Airlines Center
April 8, 2026

Mavericks Tell Lakers ‘No Error’ in Austin Reaves MRI

The Lakers coach accused Dallas’s medical staff of scanning “the wrong area.”
Sponsored

From Gold Medalist to Business Founder

Allyson Felix on investing in women’s sports and what comes next for track & LA28.
April 7, 2026

Can the Dream Capitalize on Angel Reese’s Popularity?

Reese’s trade from Chicago to Atlanta is making an impact.
April 6, 2026

Patrick Reed: Golf Apparel Free Agency ‘Been Fun’ After LIV Exit

The 2018 Masters champion is starting to sign new deals.
April 6, 2026

Chicago Sky Pivot Yet Again by Shipping Away Angel Reese

The Dream are giving up two first-round picks for Reese.
April 4, 2026

WNBA Free Agency Is Shaping Up to Be Shockingly Quiet

Some sources believe top players will sign one-year deals.