Oklahoma State Athletics and the Osage Nation have reached agreement on a partnership that will see an Osage jersey patch on all Oklahoma State uniforms will beginning with the 2026-27 competition season.
According to a press release, the relationship builds on years of collaboration between the Osage Nation and Oklahoma State University. Located just minutes from the OSU-Tulsa campus, Osage Casino Hotel Tulsa has become a visible part of the university community through its support for the Osage Casino Hotel Student Union in North Hall, which opened in 2020 and has since become a popular gathering place for students.
"Oklahoma State Athletics is building momentum in this new era of sport," said Kimberly Pearson, CEO of Osage Casinos and Hotels. "Osage is proud to be able to support the student athletes and programs across the athletic department. We've built a strong connection with the university through other projects, and this brings the relationship to a broader stage. It's about visibility, opportunity and continuing to invest in the future of our people and our communities."
OSU athletic director Chad Weiberg said Cowboy and Cowgirl student-athletes will proudly represent both Oklahoma State University and the Osage Nation in competitions all over the country.
"Oklahoma State Athletics is grateful for the people and the innovative leadership of the Osage Nation for making this historic partnership a reality," Weiberg said. "There is a deep connection of shared values between Oklahoma State and the Osage Nation, and this partnership is the latest confirmation of that relationship."
As Oklahoma's land-grant university, Oklahoma State has long served farmers, ranchers, rural communities, and working families through education, research, and outreach. Likewise, the Osage Nation Reservation — the largest reservation in Oklahoma — encompasses a diverse agricultural landscape that includes cattle ranching, hay production, farming, and extensive land management operations. Together, the two institutions share a deep investment in the prosperity of rural Oklahoma and the responsible stewardship of the land.
The agreement, which was facilitated in partnership with Learfield's Cowboy Sports Properties, also marks a historic first for Oklahoma State Athletics, as the Osage patch becomes the first sponsor mark ever displayed on varsity athletic uniforms in the university's history.
Weiberg said this partnership with the Osage Nation reflects how OSU Athletics is evolving in the new landscape of college athletics.
"It is an early confirmation of what is possible with our department's new organizational restructure to generate new revenue growth and commercial activity," he said. "I'm grateful to our team leads in Brakston Brock, Andrew Hamor, Jesse Martin and Steve Keasler for their work with the Osage leadership and Cowboy Sports Properties."
