iStockphoto / Brian Losness-USA TODAY
The Boise State football program is laying down some new blue turf at Albertsons Stadium in southwest Idaho. The old surface is being auctioned off to boost the NIL budget.
Fans can purchase a piece of the field for as low as $40. Many are spending much more. All profits go into the pockets of the Broncos‘ athletic department.
There are few more recognizable distinctions in the sport than the Smurf-turf. When you see the blue field, you know you’ve tuned into a Boise State matchup. Memorabilia collectors can now buy their very own college football artifact.
Athletic director Jeramiah Dickey plans to use money made on both players and facility upgrades as the program moves into the PAC-12.
How much does Boise State’s football turf cost?
The Broncos have teamed up with Collect U, a company helping colleges “turn renovation projects into new revenue.” It will now cash in on a facelift.
At CollectBSU, portions of the old game-used playing surface are being sold online. One superfan has already purchased a 400-square foot piece for $25,000. It will be installed in their home as part of personalized a fan cave.
Other deals advertised include the numbers of the 10-yard line at $1,799, as well as the 40-yard line at $4,000. The number “2,” famously donned by Heisman trophy finalist Ashton Jeanty, can also be bought for $2,000.
Those are the pricier pieces. Most buyers will likely be in the market for a smaller slab valued at $40. It adds up to a ridiculous amount of money.
Boise State is auctioning off their old garbage turf for thousands of dollars… and they’re valuing the WHOLE FIELD… THAT THEY’RE RIPPING UP… at over $20 million dollars Genius NIL strategy. Gotta hand it to them pic.twitter.com/8buzsIGym4
— Ev Hand (@Evan_Hand) May 7, 2026
A football field’s dimensions are 120 yards by 53.3 yards including endzones – about 57,600 square feet. The $40 payment gets you 24 square inches.
The numbers in the video above are a bit off, but the possible payout is still substantial.
The $20 million estimate goes off a 4″ x 4″ swatch. It also includes the endzones, which are orange and don’t appear on the website.
The actual swatch measurements are 6″ x 4″, while the square footage dips to 48,000 without the extra 20 yards of endzone.
Still, that comes out to around $11.5 million for the entire field. That’s a huge total if it’s successfully sold off, and it all goes to the betterment of the department.
The Broncos will put the money to good use.
Boise State is leaving the Mountain West to enter a rebuilt PAC-12. The league will invite six new football teams to join Washington State and Oregon State, who were left behind in conference realignment.
Gonzaga will also join as a basketball member.
The launch of those new programs will come in July of 2026. These foes will compete on the field in the ’26-27 season.
The move represents a push for College Football Playoff inclusion as well as an ability to be marketed on a national stage. For now, the 12-team CFP will include the conference champions of the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, and SEC. The highest ranked team from the Group of Six will also be invited.
From there, the seven highest-ranked teams, regardless of conference affiliation, will make the field.
There has been talk of an expansion to 24 teams, which could benefit arguably the top G6 league in college football. For now, the Broncos will have to focus on securing the one guaranteed non-power conference bid.
The millions earned from the Boise State blue turf auction should help the football program in its pursuit of championships. It will be interesting to see if others follow suit when undergoing future renovations.