Chipotle, the fast-casual Mexican food chain, announced this week it would expand its NIL program to include the University of Georgia and the University of Florida. Student-athletes will receive one free entrée every week for the 15 weeks of their sport’s season.
According to Fox 5 Atlanta, the program was piloted at Ohio State University last year, and the success with the Buckeyes allowed Chipotle to expand to the Bulldogs and the Gators — including nearly 2,000 student-athletes.
Student-athletes, both scholarship and walk-ons, will receive a customized card, entitling them to the free entrée.
"Our restaurants near each of these universities are frequently filled with student athletes looking for a quick and nutritious meal that can help them thrive in the classroom and on the field," said Chipotle president and Chief Brand Officer Chris Brandt. "By expanding our college card program to three universities this academic year, we're democratizing NIL for nearly 2,000 student athletes and increasing their access to real food when they need it the most."
Senior associate athletic director at UGA, Alan Thomas added, “Chipotle's emphasis on real ingredients resonates deeply with our entire athletic program. This partnership reflects our ongoing commitment to providing the best resources — including nutrition — for our athletes.”
According to research from Chipotle, the three participating schools all rank in the top 30 of university student bodies that eat at the restaurant the most. Roughly 98% of student-athletes at OSU reported eating at Chipotle at least once per month, and roughly 94% of University of Florida student-athletes said Chipotle was one of their favorite restaurants.
“Partnering with Chipotle is thrilling for us, and we appreciate the brand’s commitment to include every student athlete,” said Darren McPhail, general manager of Gators Sports Properties. “We’re passionate about doing everything we can to set our athletes up for success, and we believe this collaboration with Chipotle helps us do just that.”
