What happened: Washington reached a 10-year, $70 million stadium naming-rights agreement with Columbia Bank to rebrand Husky Stadium. The partnership pays $7 million annually and will officially change the venue's name to Columbia Bank Stadium ahead of the 2027 football season, pending Board of Regents approval. The stadium has served as the home of Huskies football since opening in 1920 as University of Washington Stadium.
Why it matters: Paired with its existing basketball arena naming partnership with Alaska Airlines, Washington is projected to secure nearly $100 million across the next decade from venue naming rights in football and men's basketball alone. The agreement stands as the largest naming-rights partnership in college athletics history. The influx of guaranteed commercial revenue arrives as athletic departments manage shifting operating costs and revenue-distribution models in the expanded Big Ten.
By the numbers: Washington is 5-4 overall and 2-4 in Big Ten play through nine games in 2026, posting a 3-2 record at Husky Stadium.
What to watch: Washington visits Michigan State this weekend before returning home to face No. 9 Indiana on Nov. 21 in its final home game of the season. The Huskies finish the regular season on the road against No. 16 Oregon in Eugene.