College football sponsorships aren't afraid to get creative. But Tyson Foods might have one of the most iconic branding collaborations the sport has ever seen.
Tyson Foods released a statement announcing a partnership with the Arkansas Razorbacks. The company released Razorback Nuggets, replacing traditional Dino Nuggets with a Razorback-shaped nugget. The move was in conjunction with the university hiring John Calipari to be the head coach of the basketball team.
"When Arkansas fans cheer on our teams this season they will be inspired by their passion for the Hogs and fueled by the new Tyson® Razorback™ Nuggets,” Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yurachek said in a statement. “With these two iconic Arkansas brands teaming up, the Razorback™ Nation will be primed and ready to ‘Call the Hogs’ from pre-game to post-game while showing their loyal support of our more than 460 Razorback™ student-athletes.”
The collaboration makes a ton of sense considering that Tyson Foods is headquartered in Springdale, Arkansas. It's a clever way for the in-state corporation to show love to the Razorbacks community.
The nuggets will be sold in select Walmart and Sam's Club locations in August and September, presumably in stores across the state of Arkansas.
The Razorbacks may not be favorites in the SEC this college football season. But no one else is going to be able to compete with this kind of sponsorship.
However, head coach Sam Pittman will need to improve on a disappointing 4-8 season in 2023 in order to keep his job beyond this upcoming season.
