president donald trump says he will sign an executive order to keep the annual Army-Navy college football game in an exclusive time slot, protecting it from any potential College Football Playoff expansion.
“The Army-Navy game is one of our greatest American traditions – unparalleled patriotism, courage and honor! This incredible tradition is now at risk of being pushed aside by more college playoff games and TV money. NOT AGAIN!” President Trump wrote via his social media platform, Truth Social, on Saturday, January 17.
He continued: “Under my administration, the second Saturday in December belongs to Army-Navy, and ONLY to Army-Navy! I will soon sign a Historic Executive Order guaranteeing an EXCLUSIVE 4-hour broadcast window, so this National Event sits above Commercial Postseason Games. No other game or team can violate that time slot!!! On the field, they are rivals, on the battlefield of the United States, are unrepeatable. defending our country with tremendous strength and heart. We must protect the tradition and the players, who protect us.
The official X account of Atletisme de la Marina reposted the president’s messageapparently in support of the future order.
President Donald Trump reportedly wants the Washington Commanders’ new stadium to be named after him. A White House source told ESPN in a report published Saturday, Nov. 8, that there has been communication between President Trump and the commanders’ property. The source said President Trump expressed a desire to have the stadium named after him. (…)
The College Football Playoff committee is scheduled to meet Sunday, Jan. 18, to decide whether to expand the playoff field from 12 teams to 16 next year, which could force another game during the Army-Navy game.
If the field expands to 16 teams, two games could be played in the opening round, which would fall on the second weekend in December (the same day Army-Navy plays each year).
There is also talk of doubling the size of the College Football Playoff bracket, to 24 teams.
President Donald Trump attends the 126th Army-Navy game
Tasos Katopodis/Getty ImagesIf no decision is made Sunday, the College Football Playoff bracket will remain at 12 teams next season.
Multiple outlets have reported that committee members are already thinking about how to expand the College Football Playoff as they work around the Army-Navy game, with or without the influence of a possible presidential executive order.
It’s unclear whether or not President Trump has the power to guarantee an exclusive time slot for the game, but he’s no stranger to executive orders. President Trump set a record for most executive orders issued in his first 100 days in office after he begins his second term in January 2025.
CBS Sports, which has broadcast rights to the Army-Navy game through 2038, previously reported that some proposals to expand the College Football Playoff to 24 teams would include moving the Army-Navy game to the first Saturday in December, instead of the second.
The Army-Navy game has been played annually since 1930, with the first iteration of the rivalry in 1890.
Last year’s game, won 17-16 by Navy, was played at the same time as the LA Bowl between Washington and Boise State, which is supposedly the exception. President Trump was in attendance.
He is also expected to attend the college football national championship game in Miami on Monday, January 19 between Indiana University and the University of Miami.