Malik's Way: Malik Washington Inks NIL Deal With Pepsi and Ledo Pizza

Pepsi products have long been found all over campus and at every Maryland Athletics venue. Ledo Pizza has been a staple of SECU Stadium’s menu for years. And now, Malik Washington touchdown passes can be found anywhere Terrapin football is being played. This season, all four are coming together in a first-of-its-kind 360 partnership that unites the Terps’ starting quarterback, Maryland Athletics, Pepsi, and Ledo Pizza.

This deal positions Washington not only as a star on the field, around the stadium, and across College Park, but also as the face of a comprehensive, multi-channel marketing campaign that integrates social media, in-stadium branding, and content captured in full Terrapin uniform inside SECU Stadium. This is the first true exploration of how Maryland Athletics and in-house NIL agencies like One Maryland can help effectively elevate existing partnerships to the benefit of fans, sponsors, athletic departments, and student-athletes. 

"I’m super excited to have Pepsi and Ledo Pizza in my corner this season,” Washington said. “Both are longtime partners of the University of Maryland, and, to me, they’re the perfect pairing for football season. Nothing goes better with game day than an ice-cold Pepsi and a slice of Ledo Pizza. I’m proud to represent brands that mean so much to our fans and the Maryland football community."

This season-long NIL collaboration underscores Pepsi’s growing investment in student-athlete partnerships. Through Maryland Athletics’ involvement, Washington will create official content in his Maryland gear, appear in stadium activations, and even bring his own pizza creation to concessions. Fans can enjoy Ledo pizza “Malik’s Way” - any classic Ledo Pizza smothered in Hot Honey - all season long at Ledo Pizza locations in SECU Stadium (Sections 10, 20, 205, and 305).

It’s a deal built on local loyalty. Maryland Athletics is working with two long-standing partners, Pepsi and Ledo Pizza, to feature an athlete from just down the road in Glen Burnie, MD; a match made in Maryland. 

As a proud Terp and DMV native, Malik Washington embodies the local pride and energy that make this campaign special.

Through its Local Eats Deserve Pepsi platform, Pepsi is celebrating beloved local restaurants around the country and in this case, one that gives College Park its flavor - an iconic institution, Ledo Pizza. This partnership will help promote College Park’s iconic Pepsi and Ledo presence, spotlight why #PizzaDeservesPepsi and help build excitement for gameday.

This four-way collaboration was facilitated by One Maryland, the in-house NIL agency for Maryland student-athletes. The agency expects this agreement to open doors for additional opportunities at Maryland and serve as a model for NIL partnerships across college athletics.

“This partnership showcases the power of alignment between Athletics, our NIL program, and our corporate partners,” said Mandy Allendorfer, Executive Director of One Maryland NIL. “We’re proud to help maximize these opportunities for Malik while strengthening the relationships that mean so much to our fans, and building a blueprint for future NIL deals and activations.” 

From pregame tailgates to in-stadium excitement and branding to a specialty pizza combination, Washington’s deal with Pepsi and Ledo Pizza is sure to be a hit for Maryland’s fans and its quarterback.