Oklahoma State and Tulsa are dealing with some absolutely brutal conditions for Saturday’s in-state showdown.
Ahead of the Cowboys’ matchup with the Golden Hurricane, Tulsa sideline reporter Jeremie Poplin shared a video from the field showing just how hot the playing surface had become before the game even kicked off.
“It’s only 153 on the turf before Noon,” Poplin wrote while showing a temperature gun registering the scorching conditions.
Yes, 153 degrees.
And as we approached kick off, it got north of 160 degrees.
The extreme turf temperature quickly caught the attention of fans on social media, with some questioning the decision to play the game during the afternoon in Oklahoma.
Of course, the temperature of an artificial playing surface can be significantly hotter than the actual air temperature when it sits under direct sunlight. But regardless of the difference, a 153-degree reading gives you a pretty good idea of what players on both sidelines were dealing with on Saturday.
The conditions are especially notable considering players are competing in full pads and helmets for several hours, with the heat coming both from above and off the playing surface.
Hot Temperatures Across College Football
Now the heat wave that is hitting much of the Midwest is also scorching fields across the country, including Indiana, as the defending National Champions are hosting North Texas. The field temperature is also a reported 150+ degrees. This has led many to continue to push for natural-field surfaces, which has long been a discussion for college and pro football.
It’s notable that with the World Cup in the USA this summer, the stadiums used that had turf fields imported grass fields to comply with FIFA standards.
Oklahoma State and Tulsa entered Saturday looking for an important early-season victory, but dealing with the conditions became another factor for both programs.
And while September football in Oklahoma isn’t exactly known for cool temperatures, seeing a thermometer register 153 degrees on the field before noon is still enough to make just about anyone thankful they’re watching this one from somewhere with air conditioning.
