Colored field turf seems to be a trend in college football and two HBCU programs are getting into the act as Clark Atlanta and Albany State debut distinct turfs.
Clark Atlanta, a Division II HBCU out of Atlanta, began practicing on its brand new red turf earlier this week. Clark Atlanta is the second HBCU to go to colored turf, and the second NCAA school to go with red turf.
On its heels is Albany State University, located in Albany, Georgia. Its turf is dark blue and will debut this season as well.
Nicknamed “The Inferno,” Eastern Washington’s red turf was installed in 2010. It’s the first red-colored football field at any level of competition. Clark Atlanta is now the second.
Livingstone College, an HBCU located in Salisbury, NC, debuted its light blue turf prior to the 2022 college football season. It was the first fully-colored turf among all HBCUs.
Here are a few other college football programs with colored turf:
Known as “The Blue,” Boise State’s turf is perhaps the most famous non-green field in college football. The blue turf was first installed in 1986 and has since become synonymous with the Broncos’ football program.
Central Arkansas has a unique alternating purple and gray striped turf. Installed in 2011, this field alternates between the two colors every five yards.
Lindenwood University, located in Missouri, installed black turf in 2012, making it one of the few schools with a black playing surface.
The University of New Haven in Connecticut has a blue turf similar to Boise State, installed in 2009.
Endicott College in Massachusetts also features a blue turf field, adding to the growing list of non-green surfaces in college football.