Blue and white apparel is ubiquitous around Happy Valley and College Ave., and the recent Collegiate Licensing Company numbers affirm that fact. The annual list of top-selling universities from the last fiscal year pits Penn State at nineteenth in the nation for merchandise royalties.

College licensed apparel brought in $4.62 billion in sales last year (how’s that for culture?). The University of Texas was the top selling university for the eighth year in a row, while SEC schools made up 7 of the top 10 slots.

Although still an impressive showing, the Nittany Lions fell seven spots this year from No. 12, good for fourth in the Big Ten behind Michigan (4), Wisconsin (13), and Nebraska (14).

A few facts from the CLC:

• NIKE USA Inc. has been the No. 1 collegiate apparel licensee for two consecutive years. Excluding the 2009-10 and 2010-11 fiscal years, NIKE USA Inc. has held the position of top apparel licensee since 1999.
• EA Sports has maintained its No.1 status among non-apparel licensees since Q3 of 2003.
• Top apparel categories for 2012-13 included T-shirts, women’s apparel, fleece, and headwear.
• Top non-apparel categories included video games, housewares, domestics, and sports equipment.

Maybe Penn State will fare better next year as fans finally retire their fading Daryll Clark and Deon Butler jerseys for these new Allen Robinson editions.

About the Author

Kevin Horne

Kevin Horne was the editor of Onward State from 2012-2014 and currently holds the position of Managing Editor Emeritus, which is a fake title he made up. He graduated from Penn State with degrees journalism and political science in 2014 and is currently seeking his J.D. at the Penn State Dickinson School of Law. A third generation Penn Stater from Williamsport, Pa., Kevin is also the president of the graduate student government. Email: [email protected]