Who handles licensing for Big Ten Conference?

Big Ten Conference's trademark licensing is managed by CLC, and brands apply through Brand Manager 360.

What types of licenses does Big Ten Conference offer?

Big Ten Conference offers conference licenses. Each is approved separately, so a standard license doesn't cover NIL, promotional or specialty products.

What royalty rate and advance will I pay for Big Ten Conference?

Collegiate royalty rates usually fall between 10% and 15% of net sales, and most schools also charge an advance when the license is issued, which is credited against the royalties you owe. Big Ten Conference's exact rate and advance are set in its license agreement. Onbase can walk you through what to expect before you apply.

Do I need a license to sell products with Big Ten Conference's logo?

Yes. Any product that uses Big Ten Conference's names, logos or marks needs a license, and every design has to be approved before it's produced or sold.

Can Onbase help me get licensed with Big Ten Conference?

Yes. Onbase runs license acquisition for brands end to end: the company application, the Big Ten Conference request and marketing plan, onboarding documents, and design approvals.

How to get licensed with Big Ten Conference

Big Ten Conference licenses its trademarks through CLC (Learfield), which runs collegiate licensing in the Brand Manager 360 portal. Brands apply once as a company, get approved by a first school, finish onboarding, then add schools one New License Request at a time.

Licensing managed by: CLC
Where you apply: Brand Manager 360
Typical collegiate royalty: 10–15% of net sales

License types

Licenses Big Ten Conference offers.

Each type is its own approval. Most brands start with the standard license and add others once they’re selling.

Conference
14 programs
Conference marks and championship products, licensed across member schools.

Step by step

Getting your Big Ten Conference license.

01
Apply to CLC as a company (Phase 1)
Submit the company application in Brand Manager 360: who you are, what you make, where it's made and how you'll sell it. Name Big Ten Conference and a focused list of other schools you actually want. A short, credible list gets approved faster than every school you can think of.
02
Win Big Ten Conference's approval
Your request goes to Big Ten Conference's licensing director. The questions are consistent: is the product incremental to current licensees, is there real retail demand, are the channels focused, is the product actually different, and will you protect the brand and supply chain? Write the marketing plan for Big Ten Conference specifically, not a reused template.
03
Finish Phase 2 onboarding
After a school approves, CLC moves you into Phase 2: certificate of insurance and additional insured endorsement sent together, a hologram order from CLC's supplier, factory disclosures, and an Authorized Manufacturer Agreement signed by each factory.
04
Pay the advance and sign the agreement
You'll get an invoice and a license agreement to sign electronically. CLC takes check, ACH or wire. Move quickly: a school's approval expires after 90 days if the paperwork isn't finished.
05
Get categories, channels and designs approved
Designs can only be submitted under categories already on your contract, and you can only sell in approved channels. New schools expect first artwork within about 30 days, and a denied design has a 10-day resubmit window in Brand Manager 360.
06
Report royalties every month
CLC royalty reports are due monthly by the 20th, including months with no sales. Every royalty-bearing line needs the design's UPI and each retailer needs a CLC retailer code.

Mistakes that slow Big Ten Conference approvals

Requesting every sales channel instead of the ones you'll use.
Reusing another school's plan with the old school's name still in it.
A claims-made insurance policy, or an endorsement sent separately from the certificate.
Letting an approval sit past its 90-day window.

Deep diveThe full CLC licensing guideInsurance details, denial reasons, and how to write the request and marketing plan.Read the guide →

FAQ

Big Ten Conference licensing questions.

Who handles licensing for Big Ten Conference?: Big Ten Conference's trademark licensing is managed by CLC, and brands apply through Brand Manager 360.
What types of licenses does Big Ten Conference offer?: Big Ten Conference offers conference licenses. Each is approved separately, so a standard license doesn't cover NIL, promotional or specialty products.
What royalty rate and advance will I pay for Big Ten Conference?: Collegiate royalty rates usually fall between 10% and 15% of net sales, and most schools also charge an advance when the license is issued, which is credited against the royalties you owe. Big Ten Conference's exact rate and advance are set in its license agreement. Onbase can walk you through what to expect before you apply.
Do I need a license to sell products with Big Ten Conference's logo?: Yes. Any product that uses Big Ten Conference's names, logos or marks needs a license, and every design has to be approved before it's produced or sold.
Can Onbase help me get licensed with Big Ten Conference?: Yes. Onbase runs license acquisition for brands end to end: the company application, the Big Ten Conference request and marketing plan, onboarding documents, and design approvals.

Also licensed through CLC