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President Donald Trump congratulated Indiana and Miami ahead of their College Football Playoff championship clash in Florida on Monday night, which he is expected to attend alongside 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 “spirit” of the nation.
President Donald Trump attends the 126th Army-Navy game between the Army Black Knights and Navy Midshipmen at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland, December 13, 2025. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
“For more than 150 years, college football has been a staple of American culture. Every fall and winter, massive crowds gather in stadiums in college towns across our country to witness the epic display of loyalty, rivalry, tradition and regional identity that erupts in the stands and on the field. Since the very first college game in 1869, our country’s love of this legendary Saturday ritual has been passed down from one generation to the next and endured as an iconic American institution,” his message read.
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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 became a fixture at sporting events during 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 Miami Hurricanes on 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 made sports a priority during his second term, both for political reasons and self-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 Army-Navy NCAA college football game at M&T Bank Stadium, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, in Baltimore. (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP Photo)
TRUMP TO ATTEND COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS CHAMPIONSHIP GAME IN MIAMI WITH RUBIO
In February, he signed the “Keep Men Out of Women’s Sports” executive order, prompting the NCAA to update its 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, including Maine, California and Minnesota, refused to comply. Legal battles followed, two of which were heard before the Supreme Court this month – Little v. Hecox and West Virginia v. BPJ.
Trump also spoke at length about the state of college athletics in the world of name, image and likeness (NIL). It was reported in May, after a meeting with former Alabama head coach Nick Saban, that he was considering an executive order to regulate NIL agreements in college athletics. He then signed the “Saving College Sports” executive order in July that sets new restrictions on payments to college athletes and implements requirements that schools report on conserving resources for unpaid sports.
Outside of his politics, Trump attended several sporting events during his first year.
President Donald Trump before a game between the Navy Midshipmen and the West Point Army Black Knights at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland, December 13, 2025. (Roger Wimmer/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
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In April, Trump sat alongside 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 September 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 an NFL regular-season 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, Fla., on Monday at 7:45 p.m. ET.
