New Ohio Stadium turf follows traditional lines
Fan-inspired elements a part of the new design for field in 2022
The design of the new playing surface that will be installed in Ohio Stadium late this spring won’t feature a wild scarlet and gray paisley pattern or anything close, and to be honest, how could it? Ohio State football holds a noble place in the sport as one of the most tradition-rich and historic programs in college football history.
Ohio State football ranks second all-time in wins and will play its 133rd season in 2022 in 100-year-old Ohio Stadium, which is nestled nicely along the banks of the Olentangy River as well as on the National Register of Historic Places.
So, you don’t mess too much with change on something of such historical significance. You tweak.
And that’s what the Ohio State Department of Athletics has done with the look of the new field that will be installed in June and July in Ohio Stadium. The same field and design will also replace the outdated indoor surface at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center with work set for April, May and June.
Fan-Inspired Concepts
The department engaged Buckeye Nation in October 2021 to send in fan-inspired design concepts for the field. More than 1,300 designs were submitted, and elements most favored by fans included the Block O at midfield (59%), incorporating Buckeye leaves (48%) and scarlet end zones (46%, compared to 21% suggesting gray end zones).
All three of those elements, plus others favored by fans, are included in the new design that was ultimately determined by an internal panel. Details of the design include:
- The Block O at midfield has been emphasized with the outer strokes color adjusted to gray.
- Buckeye leaf decals replace the two X’s at the respective 35-yard line kickoff locations.
- Official OHIO STATE and BUCKEYES athletics word marks, consistent with those on other venue playing surfaces and on team uniforms and apparel, are in the two scarlet end zones.
- The outer boundaries of play have been color adjusted to gray to complement the scarlet end zones.
- Yard line numbering matches the block type font on the players’ uniforms.
- The iconic black/white/scarlet striping pattern, found most prominently on Buckeye helmets, will have a home in each end zone along the end lines, matching the width of the goal posts.
Fans will see the new turf first on Sept. 3, when Ohio State hosts the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
2022 Ticket Information
For those interested in becoming a new season ticket holder, or for more information on 2022 season football tickets, please visit https://go.osu.edu/fbtix.
2022 Ohio State Schedule
Sept. 3 – Notre Dame
Sept. 10 – Arkansas State
Sept. 17 – Toledo
Sept. 24 – Wisconsin
Oct. 1 – Rutgers
Oct. 8 – at Michigan State
Oct. 15 – Off
Oct. 22 – Iowa
Oct. 29 – at Penn State
Nov. 5 – at Northwestern
Nov. 12 – Indiana
Nov. 19 – at Maryland
Nov. 26 – Michigan
Dec. 3 – Big Ten Championship Game
