Chipotle Mexican Grill has announced a new partnership with The Ohio State University, providing free meals to all student athletes for the 2024-25 school year. This collaboration marks the first time Chipotle has extended such an offer to an entire athletic department. Approximately 1,000 student athletes, including both scholarship and walk-on players, will receive a customized Chipotle card that grants them one free entrée per week for 15 weeks during their athletic seasons.
Ohio State athletes Madison Greene from the women’s basketball team, Ella Wrobel from the women’s volleyball team, and TreVeyon Henderson from the football team have been featured in promotional materials holding their customized Chipotle cards. This initiative is part of Chipotle’s broader “Real Food for Real Athletes” platform, which aims to support athletes by providing nutrition through fresh, real ingredients.
Chris Brandt, Chief Brand Officer at Chipotle, highlighted the strong connection between Ohio State and the Columbus community, noting that Ohio State is among the top five universities with the highest Chipotle consumption. He emphasized the company’s goal to offer more equitable access to partnerships and nutrition, recognizing that typically, only a select few athletes secure Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals.
Ohio State’s Assistant Athletic Director of NIL, Logan Hittle, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, citing the mutual commitment to helping student athletes excel both on and off the field. The collaboration was developed in conjunction with Ohio State Sports Properties, the multimedia rights holder for the university’s athletic department, and Learfield, a company specializing in college athletics media and technology.
In addition to the meal program, Chipotle has released a new advertisement featuring Ohio State football players TreVeyon Henderson, Denzel Burke, and Jeremiah Smith. Narrated by Ohio State legend Archie Griffin, the ad showcases the traditions of the Ohio State football program. The campaign builds on previous collaborations between Chipotle and Ohio State athletes, including a 2022 NIL campaign featuring Henderson and the Ohio State offensive line.