A Dream Come True: Chipotle Gives Free Food to College Athletes

It’s a huge win for student-athletes at three major universities. Chipotle has announced that every athlete at Ohio State, Florida, and Georgia will get free food for the entire 2025-26 school year. . This amazing deal is a major benefit for nearly 2,000 student-athletes and shows how companies are embracing the new era of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL).

Chipotle will provide each athlete with a customized card that’s good for one free meal per week for 15 weeks during the season. This initiative is a big deal for college athletes who are constantly looking for quick and healthy meals to fuel their demanding schedules.

This isn’t a random decision; it’s a strategic move based on what athletes already love. According to Chipotle, their restaurants near these three campuses are always busy with student-athletes. The company’s own research shows that an overwhelming majority of athletes at these schools already eat their food regularly. For example, 98% of Ohio State athletes surveyed said they eat at Chipotle at least once a month.

Chipotle’s Chief Brand Officer, Chris Brandt, says the company is “democratizing NIL” by making this kind of deal available to a large number of athletes at once. It’s a smart way for the company to support student-athletes and get their brand in front of a key audience.