Program outlook
The Inferno is Eastern Washington's signature. Installed in 2010 at Roos Field in Cheney, Washington, the red artificial turf was funded by alumnus Michael Roos, an All-Pro tackle who donated $500,000 for the project. The turf is not merely aesthetic; it is psychological.
Since Oct 9: W 31-22 vs Northern Colorado; L 20-56 vs Montana State; L 33-42 vs Montana. 2-7 this season.
Delaware built a 19-0 lead deep into the third quarter, and the Eagles seemed beaten. But quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell orchestrated an improbable comeback. He threw three touchdown passes in the final 16 minutes, connecting with Brandon Kaufman on an 11-yard go-ahead score with minutes remaining. Eastern Washington held on for a 20-19 victory—the program's first national title in any sport.
Mitchell's performance earned him Most Outstanding Player honors. The Eagles have remained competitive in the Big Sky Conference under Aaron Best (ninth year as head coach since 2017), but a return to the national stage has proven elusive.
The 2026 season has not followed that script. Through October 4 the Eagles are 1-5: a 34-24 home win over Northern Iowa, then losses to Northern Arizona 34-27, South Dakota 41-23, Washington 48-16, Cal Poly 31-27 at home as a favorite, and UC Davis 49-38.
Most weeks vanish. These didn’t.
2010
Eastern Washington installed the first red artificial playing surface in college football (SprinTurf), dubbed 'the Inferno.' Made its debut September 18, 2010, with EWU defeating Montana 36–27. Remains the only red turf in college football and serves as EWU's unique visual signature.
Moment of the year · 2026
Week 3 of 2026. A reckoning loss — the data point the next season must answer.
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Big Sky standing · 2026
Eastern Washington is 12th of 13 in the Big Sky at 1-5. The path to the title is steep — the focus is on playoff positioning and rivalry wins.
| # | Program | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northern Arizona | 6-1 |
| 2 | Montana State | 5-1 |
| 3 | Montana | 5-2 |
| 4 | Weber State | 5-3 |
| 5 | Idaho | 4-2 |
| 6 | Idaho State | 3-3 |
| 7 | UC Davis | 3-3 |
| 8 | Cal Poly | 3-4 |
| 9 | Southern Utah | 3-4 |
| 10 | Northern Colorado | 2-4 |
| 11 | Portland State | 2-4 |
| 12 | Eastern Washington | 1-5 |
| 13 | Utah Tech | 1-7 |
Three gameday rituals — the ones outsiders never quite catch.
since 2010
On February 26, 2010, Eastern Washington installed the first red artificial playing surface in college football—a first at any level of American football. Sponsored by alumnus and former All-Pro tackle Michael Roos (who donated $500,000) and dubbed 'the Inferno,' the field is the only red turf in college football and serves as the Eagles' signature visual identity. Rivals immediately noted the psychological and visual edge.
since 2010
Down 19-0 deep into the third quarter, the Eagles mounted an improbable comeback. Bo Levi Mitchell connected with Brandon Kaufman on an 11-yard touchdown pass with minutes remaining to give EWU a 20-19 lead. The victory remains the program's most defining moment—their first national title in any sport.
since 1998 · trophy game
The Governors Cup rivalry between Eastern Washington and Montana is one of the Big Sky's fiercest matchups. Montana leads the series 28-18-1, but recent years have seen competitive, high-stakes battles. The rivalry carries the intensity of two geographically proximate schools competing for regional supremacy.
since 1914
Roos Field, located in Cheney, Washington (20 miles west of Spokane), has been home to Eastern Washington football since 1914. Originally named Woodward Field, it was renamed before the 2010 season in honor of Michael Roos, who championed the red turf project. The field's capacity is approximately 10,000–12,000, creating an intimate, passionate home-field advantage. The red turf and the Eagles' deep community roots make Roos Field one of FCS football's most distinctive venues.
Most recent: 2018 — loss 38-24 (away). Last 5 postseason: 1-3.
