President Donald Trump has taken decisive action to safeguard the prominence of a cherished American sporting tradition. On Friday, the President issued a formal executive order that explicitly bars the College Football Playoff and all other postseason college football games from being broadcast during the annual Army-Navy matchup each December.
Ensuring an Exclusive Broadcasting Window
The executive order directs the Commerce Secretary and the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission to coordinate closely with the College Football Playoff committee, the NCAA, and media rights partners. The primary objective is to guarantee an exclusive broadcasting window for the storied rivalry between the United States Military Academy and the United States Naval Academy. This game is traditionally played on the second Saturday of December every year.
Addressing Potential Playoff Expansion
Trump's order specifically references the potential expansion of the College Football Playoff, a move that would likely necessitate an earlier start date for the postseason tournament. In the initial two years of the current 12-team format, the first-round playoff games were scheduled for the weekend immediately following the Army-Navy Game.
This year, the Army-Navy Game is slated for December 12th at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, which serves as the home ground for the NFL's New York Giants and New York Jets. Meanwhile, the first-round games of the College Football Playoff are set for December 18th and 19th.
Discussions have been held regarding a possible expansion of the playoff to 24 teams. Such a significant enlargement would require at least one additional week of games, making an earlier start in December a serious consideration. A more modest expansion to 16 teams would not necessarily alter the number of weeks required for the playoff tournament.
Preserving National Focus and Morale
The executive order articulates a clear rationale for this protective measure. It states that scheduling conflicts with other college football broadcasts "weaken the national focus on our Military Service Academies and detract from a morale-building event of vital interest to the Department of War."
Consequently, the order establishes it as the official policy of the United States that "no college football game, specifically college football’s CFP or other postseason games, be broadcast in a manner that directly conflicts with the Army Navy Game."
A Historic and Unbroken Tradition
The Army-Navy football game represents one of the most enduring rivalries in American sports. The two service academies have faced off every single year since 1930, maintaining this tradition even during the pandemic-altered 2020 season and throughout the years of World War II. To date, there have been 126 meetings between the teams.
While often held at neutral sites, the game's venues have included other NFL stadiums, such as the homes of the Philadelphia Eagles and the Baltimore Ravens, underscoring its national significance and appeal.
