Chipotle makes insane gesture to college athletes as fans are left stunned

Student athletes at Ohio State, Florida and Georgia will receive free Chipotle for the duration of the 2025-26 school year, it has been announced.

The Mexican grill restaurant chain is handing every athlete at the three colleges in question customized cards which entitles them to one free entree per for 15 weeks over the course of the season.

Ohio State University students were already afforded this luxury earlier in 2025, with Chipotle now extending the partnership to include two more elite athletic programs in Florida and Georgia. 

It is believed the initiative will help nearly 2,000 college athletes benefit from NIL (Name, Image, Likeness).

After hearing the announcement, fans took to social media to express both envy and disbelief in equal measure.

One user commented: 'Chipotle going bankrupt on this one'. 

Another wrote: 'Free chipotle yeah it's gone too far'.

'I still have my eligibility,' a third joked.

While one quipped: 'Absolute beautiful recruiting pitch for Walk-Ons in the future. “Unfortunately we cannot offer you a scholarship however, you like Chipotle?”'

According to data from Chipotle, based on a survey of over 1,000 athletes at the three schools in question, 98 percent of Ohio State athletes said they eat from the restaurant chain at least once a month.

An estimated 94 percent of Florida athletes consider it one of their top three restaurants, while 80 percent of Georgia athletes claimed it is an important part of their training regimen.

'Our restaurants near each of these universities are frequently filled with student athletes looking for a quick and nutritious meal that can help them thrive in the classroom and on the field,' said Chris Brandt, President, Chief Brand Officer at Chipotle.

'By expanding our college card program to three universities this academic year, we're democratizing NIL for nearly 2,000 student athletes and increasing their access to real food when they need it the most.'