Big Sky · Roos Field · 8,500 · 4,389 avg in 2026
LastL 23–41 at South Dakota · Sat Sep 12 · Nate Bell 217 pass yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
Nextat Washington · Sat Sep 19 · 7:15 pm ET · Husky Stadium · series 0-3, lost the last 3 · Game preview
Updated Tue Sep 15 · through week 2
Program Prestige · Eastern Washington
11 seasons inside the CFP era, no bids yet — the era the program is still trying to break into.
Eastern Washington's 2014–2025 record is 81-55. The era is still being written; the CFP line is the one the program is arguing for.
Program outlook
Eastern Washington plays on the only red football field in college football—and won a national championship on it in 2010.
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 field made its debut on September 18, 2010, with EWU defeating Montana 36–27 in front of a record 11,702 fans—and it has remained the only red playing surface in college football ever since. The turf is not merely aesthetic; it is psychological.
That same 2010 season, Eastern Washington reached the FCS National Championship Game. Seeded fifth with a 12–2 record, the Eagles faced third-seeded Delaware (12–2) on January 7, 2011, in Frisco, Texas. 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. In 2011, he led the FCS in four statistical categories (4,009 passing yards, 33 touchdown passes), won the Walter Payton Award (best offensive player in FCS football), and was named to seven All-American teams. That championship season and Mitchell's brilliance remain the defining moments in Eastern Washington football history. 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 2010 title stands as the program's greatest achievement—a validation that proved a Big Sky program could reach the summit.
Eastern Washington football is defined by the only red turf in college football and a 2010 national championship that proved the Eagles could win at the highest level.
All-time record · Eastern Washington
162-121 all-time · 51 seasons · 1924–2026
Program memory
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.
On January 7, 2011, EWU (seeded 5th, 12–2 record) defeated 3rd-seeded Delaware (12–2) 20–19 in Frisco, Texas. Down 19–0 in the third quarter, Bo Levi Mitchell led a stunning comeback with three TD passes in the final 16 minutes. Brandon Kaufman caught the go-ahead score with minutes remaining. Program's first national title in any sport.
Miracle
Mitchell posted 4,009 passing yards, 33 TD passes, led the FCS in four statistical categories, won the Walter Payton Award (best offensive player in FCS), and was named to seven All-American teams (six first-team). Broke four school records.
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Big Sky standing · 2026
Eastern Washington is 9th of 13 in the Big Sky at 0-1. The path to the title is steep — the focus is on bowl access and rivalry wins.
| # | Program | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montana | 2-0 |
| 2 | Cal Poly | 1-0 |
| 3 | Montana State | 1-0 |
| 4 | Northern Arizona | 1-0 |
| 5 | UC Davis | 1-0 |
| 6 | Southern Utah | 1-1 |
| 7 | Weber State | 1-1 |
| – | Idaho State | 0-0 |
| 9 | Eastern Washington | 0-1 |
| 10 | Idaho | 0-1 |
| 11 | Northern Colorado | 0-1 |
| 12 | Portland State | 0-1 |
| 13 | Utah Tech | 0-2 |
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. The red field made its debut on September 18, 2010, with EWU defeating Montana 36–27 in front of 11,702 fans—a record crowd. Rivals immediately noted the psychological and visual edge.
since 2010
On January 7, 2011, Eastern Washington (seeded fifth) defeated third-seeded Delaware 20–19 in the FCS National Championship Game in Frisco, Texas. 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. The series began in 1998 (after the University of Idaho departed the conference in 1996), and the game often decides conference championship implications. Montana leads the all-time 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.
Bowl / Postseason Ledger
Most recent: 2018 — loss 38-24 (away). Last 5 postseason: 1-2.
Program Prestige · Eastern Washington
Bowl / Postseason Ledger