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.