Ohio State, JPMorganChase Strike Landmark Jersey Patch Partnership

Ohio State has landed one of the richest sponsorship deals in college sports, partnering with JPMorganChase on a jersey patch agreement reportedly worth nearly $17 million annually. The deal, which spans all 36 varsity teams, is believed to be among the largest non-apparel partnerships in the NCAA and reflects the growing commercialization of college athletics following the NCAA’s approval of jersey patches and expanded NIL opportunities.

The Six Kings Slam is returning to Riyadh Season for its third year, with Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev, Taylor Fritz, and Alex de Minaur set to compete Oct. 21-24. The elite exhibition tournament will stream live exclusively on Netflix for the second straight year, following Sinner’s back-to-back titles and becoming one of Riyadh Season’s marquee global sporting events.

New York Mets star Francisco Lindor is the face of Fear of God’s new MLB Essentials Summer 2026 collection, starring in a campaign for the latest expansion of the brand’s partnership with Major League Baseball. The collection blends Jerry Lorenzo’s signature streetwear aesthetic with baseball-inspired designs, including new apparel and co-branded Franklin batting gloves. The drop follows Fear of God’s MLB Essentials Spring 2026 launch as the brand continues bridging sports and fashion.

HBO Max is testing HBO Max Shorts, a TikTok-style vertical video feed that uses AI and human editors to surface memorable scenes, trailers, and bonus clips from its library. The feature, currently available to select U.S. iOS users, is designed to drive content discovery, not create original short-form programming. The streamer is also piloting Ask HBO Max, an AI-powered conversational search tool that recommends titles based on natural-language prompts.

DoorDash is expanding its entertainment strategy, naming WME as its entertainment agency of record. WME’s Entertainment Marketing & Advisory group will help the delivery platform build partnerships across Hollywood, including celebrity collaborations, branded content, and cultural marketing initiatives. The move reflects a broader shift among major brands looking beyond traditional advertising to create entertainment-driven campaigns that connect with audiences across platforms.

Meta and BlackRock are teaming up on a $14 billion data center campus in El Paso, Texas, as the tech giant ramps up its AI infrastructure investments. BlackRock-managed funds will hold an 80% stake in the venture, while Meta will retain 20% ownership and become the facility’s sole tenant once it opens in 2028. The one-gigawatt campus is expected to support thousands of construction jobs and hundreds of permanent roles.

Penske Media is facing a lawsuit from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association over its 2023 acquisition of the Golden Globes. The HFPA alleges Penske orchestrated a scheme to undermine the organization and gain control of the awards show market through its ownership of major entertainment publications. The company, which owns The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, and Rolling Stone, has not yet commented.

Apple TV dropped a trailer for Season 4 of Ted Lasso on Tuesday, marking the Emmy-winning comedy’s long-awaited return. The 10-episode season premieres Aug. 5, with new episodes dropping weekly through Oct. 7. Jason Sudeikis reprises his role as Ted, who returns to England to coach a second-division women’s football team, alongside returning cast members Hannah Waddingham, Juno Temple, Brett Goldstein, and Brendan Hunt.

Watch the trailer here. >>>

The Philadelphia Eagles are locking up a cornerstone of their defense, signing Jalen Carter to a four-year, $152 million extension worth up to $160 million, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The deal includes $106 million guaranteed and makes the 25-year-old the highest-paid defensive tackle in NFL history based on average annual value. Carter has earned Pro Bowl honors in each of his first two seasons and is now under contract through 2031.

Olivia Wilde is returning to comedy with Naughty, a holiday film starring Jennifer Aniston and Peter Dinklage from Universal Pictures and LuckyChap. Set for release Nov. 5, 2027, the film follows a mother (Aniston) who seeks out Santa Claus (Dinklage) to testify in her custody battle. The project reunites Wilde with Universal following the success of The Invite, which became one of the year’s biggest theatrical comedy breakouts.

Apple is preparing a major push into the smart home market, with a new AI-powered hub device built around its next-generation Siri assistant. The company is also planning refreshed Apple TV and HomePod mini products as it looks to challenge Amazon and Google. The new hub is expected to feature a display, FaceTime, home security controls, and facial recognition that personalizes the experience based on the user.

Kering is showing early signs of a potential luxury comeback, reporting $4.15 billion in quarterly revenue as its turnaround efforts continue. Gucci, the group’s flagship brand, saw sales decline just 3% year over year, an improvement from an 8% drop in the previous quarter, helped by stronger U.S. demand for new handbags. The results suggest that Kering’s strategy to revive Gucci’s brand momentum may be gaining traction.

Image: Courtesy of Ohio State Athletics