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:
- Core Home and Core Road: Ohio State’s iconic home uniform (Silver Helmet / Scarlet Jersey / Gray Pants) has defined Buckeye Saturdays at Ohio Stadium for decades and remains the cornerstone of the program’s visual identity. The core road look (Silver Helmet / White Jersey / Gray Pants) carries the same storied legacy, worn by generations of champions in opposing team stadiums nationwide.
- Tunnel Vision (Black Helmet / Black Jersey / Black Pants): Originally introduced in 2015 and last worn in 2022, the black uniforms have become a fan favorite and a modern look in Ohio State’s uniform rotation. The 2026 edition builds on that tradition while incorporating updates that honor the program’s historic visual identity.
- Scarlet Rush (Silver Helmet / Scarlet Jersey / Scarlet Pants): A bold all-scarlet uniform, drawing direct inspiration from one of the most recognizable themed stadium atmospheres in college football, “Scarlet the Shoe” including when it was last worn against Tennessee in the 2024 CFP Playoffs.
- Sub Zero (Silver Helmet / White Jersey / White Pants): A clean, modern, all-white alternate uniform that delivers a bold interpretation of one of the program’s most classic looks – specifically, this innovative look debuted during the 2020 season when the Buckeyes won at Michigan State, 52-12.
