Aflac’s six-year sponsorship deal with the Colorado Buffaloes, which includes the insurance company’s symbols adorning Deion Sanders ‘ helmet, contains early cancellation speech in the event Sanders leaves CU before 2028 or Aflac ends its individual, existing support agreement with the instructor.
The original agreement between Aflac and Buffalo Sports Properties ( BSP), a Learfield company dedicated to CU sports, was amended in July 2023 to include the additional conditions relating to Sanders. A version of the amended contract obtained through a public records request shows that the contract pays$ 3.76 million over the six-year interval from 2023 to 2029. Aflac paid BSP$ 177,500 next year, but the insurance company was expected to knife over$ 3,000 more than three times that amount this year.

The contract stipulates that Sanders ‘ contract would automatically terminate the following year and that Aflac’s final monthly payment may be reduced in half if he leaves CU before the deal’s conclusion in 2029. For example, if Sanders departed during the 2026-2027 season, the deal would automatically conclude after the 2027-2028 season and Aflac’s last remittance would be reduced from$ 711, 939 to$ 339, 019.00.
Beyond Sanders ‘ bones, the Aflac package includes several different brand displays around CU’s Folsom Field, including field-goal padding and two minutes of “rotational exposure” on all of the stadium’s Lead signage.
For sponsorship agreements in college sports to have certain opt-out provisions tied to popular coaches is not uncommon. Boise State’s 2012 apparel deal with Nike, for example, allowed the apparel giant to reduce income payments to the college if then-football manager Chris Petersen left, due to” the reduction of price” that might come with his exit.
Similar to the co-branding work of CU and its famous football coach, Nike has entered into an agreement to buy some clothing. According to Sportico, the circumstance continued for decades under a “handshake deal” as the parties worked out new registration terms.
Aflac launched its quarterly college football coach advertising campaign, featuring Smith and former Alabama instructor Nick Saban, ahead of Colorado’s home opener against North Dakota State on Thursday night. How much money does Smith make from speaking for the Fortune 500 company is unknown. According to NCAA regulations, Sanders ‘ employment contract contains unusual language that only allows him to disclose these earnings verbally to the CU president and athletic director. Despite the fact that most college coaches annually submit written reports detailing “athletically-related outside income,” Sanders ‘ employment contract stipulates this.
Given the drama that occurred last month revolving around the illness insurance application process for CU wide receiver Travis Hunter and quarterback Shedeur Sanders, Deion’s child, Sanders ‘ function as an insurance spokesperson is not without humor.