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President Donald Trump congratulated Indiana and Miami ahead of their college football championship showdown in Florida on Monday night, which he is expected to attend along with Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
In a statement released by the White House, the president said college football reflects “our timeless American values of family, freedom, unity and hard work,” calling it a symbol of the nation’s “spirit.”
President Donald Trump attends the 126th Army-Navy Game between the Army Black Knights and the Navy Midshipmen at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland, Dec. 13, 2025. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
“For more than 150 years, college football has been a cherished fixture in American culture. Every fall and winter, massive crowds flock to the stadiums in college towns across our country to witness the epic display of loyalty, rivalry, tradition and regional identity erupt in the stands and on the field below. Since the first college showdown in 1869, our country’s love for this historic Saturday ritual has been passed down from generation to generation and has endured. as an iconic symbol of an American institution,” his message said.
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“At its best, college football reflects our timeless American values of family, freedom, unity and hard work and represents the pinnacle of our national spirit.”
Trump, who has become a fixture at sporting events in both his first and second terms, wished both teams luck as Indiana makes its first appearance in the national title game under second-year coach Curt Cignetti, and Miami seeks its sixth title and first in more than 25 years.
“Melania and I congratulate the Indiana Hoosiers and the Miami Hurricanes for reaching the College Football Playoff National Championship. God bless the talented players and dedicated coaches, the families who love and support them, and the loyal fans who cheer them on. May the best team win!”
Trump has made sports a priority in his second term, both as a matter of policy and personal interest.
President Donald Trump walks onto the field with Lt. Gen. Steven Gilland, superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, left, and Lt. Gen. Michael Borgschulte, superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy, right, unseen, before the start of the 126th NCAA college football game between the Army and Navy at M&T Bank Stadium, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, in Baltimore. (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP Photo)
TRUMP TO ATTEND COLLEGE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME IN MIAMI WITH RUBIO
In February, he signed the “Keep Men Out of Women’s Sports” executive order, which prompted the NCAA update their policy the next day to limit female competition to biological females.
Soon, other sports governing bodies followed suit, but a handful of Democratic-controlled states, most notably Maine, California and Minnesota, refused to comply. Legal battles followed, including two that came before the Supreme Court this month: Little v. Hecox and West Virginia v. BPJ.
Trump has also spoken extensively about the state of college athletics in the name, image and likeness (NIL) world. In May, after a meeting with former Alabama head coach Nick Saban, he was reported to be considering an executive order to regulate NIL agreements in college athletics. He then signed the “Save College Sports” executive order in July, which placed new restrictions on payments to college athletes and implemented demands to hold schools accountable and preserve resources for non-revenue-generating sports.
Outside of politics, Trump has attended several sporting events in his first year.
President Donald Trump before a game between the Navy Midshipmen and the Army Black Knights of West Point at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland, Dec. 13, 2025. (Roger Wimmer/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
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In April, Trump sat next to UFC president Dana White outside the octagon for UFC 314 in Miami and again two months later at UFC 316 in New Jersey. He also attended several events in September, including the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black in New York and a New York Yankees game on September 11, 24 years after the 9/11 attacks. He was also present at the US Open men’s final earlier that month.
Trump attended the Washington Commanders game in November, becoming the first sitting president to attend a regular-season NFL game since 1978, when former President Jimmy Carter was in office.
Top-seeded Indiana, led by Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza, will face Miami at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, on Monday at 7:45 p.m. ET.
