Boise State’s iconic Smurf Turf is being sold in pieces — what other universities are doing to raise funds

Boise State Broncos quarterback Jack Sears (16) hands off to Andrew Van Buren (21) during a college football game at Albertsons Stadium in Boise in 2020. Boise State's famous blue turf is being replaced and the sold in chunks as part of a fundraising move. | " " As the college sports landscape dramatically shifted in 2021, from a state where athletes were punished for receiving payments of any kind to the current free-for-all where athletes can strike sponsorship deals with little oversight, the schools have been scrambling to find ways to pay athletes.

The name, image of likeness, or NIL, deals morphed into contracts athletes worked out with collectives, like Cody Campbell’s Matador Club that fostered large-scale deals for Texas Tech. Now universities are trying to find ways to fund $20. 5 million in revenue sharing to pay athletes across the school directly.

It’s an area of concern for many athletic programs, especially for programs struggling to stay afloat before name, image and likeness came into play. Some universities are exploring private equity options, like the University of Utah , and many are exploring creative ways to raise funding. From selling off pieces of Boise State’s iconic Smurf Turf to exclusive team sneakers, schools are finding fun and unique ways to compensate their athletes.

Here are some of the creative programs in the current landscape. Smurf Turf sold in pieces to boosters As Boise State replaces the Smurf Turf ahead of its inaugural Pac-12 season, the school decided to put its iconic turf to use. The New York Times reported Tuesday that a 400-square-foot piece sold for $25,000 at an auction.