Ohio State football will have a new playing surface for the 2026 season, the school announced May 15.
The Motz Group is installing turf from Shaw Sports Turf’s Forge Series at Ohio Stadium. According to the Shaw Sports Turf website, the synthetic surface meets new NFL requirements and “integrates numbers, hash marks, yard lines, and logos directly into the turf, eliminating the cut-and-glue inlay process that has long challenged maintenance and installation crews across the industry.”
The new technology will allow Ohio State to “utilize customizable end zones that amplify themed game atmospheres,” said OSU athletic director Ross Bjork in a press release.
Buckeyes coach Ryan Day added that, “The new turf is a welcomed upgrade to Ohio Stadium to maintain the safety and performance of our players on gamedays.”
The old turf, also a Shaw product, was a “slit film” field, which the NFL Players Association had argued has statistically higher rates of in-game non-contact injuries compared to all other surfaces.
The Ohio State field will continue to be sponsored by Safelite.
Ohio State shares new uniform details
The Buckeyes in recent days have announced the return of “Buckeye stripes” to the shoulders of their jerseys and the addition of an all-black uniform that the team will wear at points in 2026.
On May 15, the school additionally said all uniforms will feature a “Block O” at the center of the front of the jersey collar and a “decorative festoon pattern inside the jersey collar.” It echoes a pattern seen throughout Ohio Stadium.
Ohio State uniform combinations for 2026
Per the school’s release, OSU can wear any of the following uniforms during the upcoming season:
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State football to install NFL-caliber turf, officials say
Reporting by Lori Schmidt, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
