Donald Trump’s relationship with football runs deep, and it’s anything but smooth. Since the 1980s, he has clashed repeatedly with the NFL, from his failed efforts to challenge the league with the USFL to his public feuds over player protests. Media houses even dub this decades-long conflict “The Pigskin War.” With the NFL often positioned as his adversary, Trump has found his comfort zone in college football as the atmosphere in CFB is more welcoming, and the game day spotlights just happen to work in his favor.

His support for college football came into sharper focus during the 2020 season, when COVID-19 threatened to cancel college football entirely. Trump wasn’t having it. Taking to Twitter, he declared, “The student-athletes have been working too hard for their season to be cancelled. #WeWantToPlay.” He later doubled down during a press conference, saying, “These football players are very young, strong people, and physically, I mean they’re physically in extraordinary shape. So I think football is making a tragic mistake.” he emphasized that it would be unfair to cancel the season the athletes worked so hard for.

From supporting the athletes on Twitter to standing at midfield during national anthems and speaking at major universities, Trump has made college football a key part of his public image. But does he actually have a favorite team, or are his appearances just another extension of the campaign trail?

Does Donald Trump have a favorite college football team?

Donald Trump has not officially declared allegiance to one specific college football team. His attendance at games often follow a pattern, he mostly attends games of teams that aligns with regions that form the backbone of his political support. He’s been a frequent guest at matches featuring Southern teams like Alabama, Georgia, and LSU. During his presidency and beyond, Trump has appeared at several games like the 2018 and 2020 College Football Playoff National Championships, and in 2019, he attended the LSU-Alabama “Game of the Century,” and rivalry games in primary battlegrounds like Iowa and South Carolina.

His presence at these events is more than casual fandom. According to Naval War College professor Nicholas Sarantakes, Trump’s game day appearances are often similar to Richard Nixon, who famously used sports to boost his image. Like Nixon, Trump shows up where he’s most likely to be cheered and where he can score political points in the process. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders once stated his attendance at an Alabama–Georgia game by emphasizing both teams were from “Trump Country.” Rather than revealing personal loyalty to one program, Trump’s college football appearances reflect a calculated engagement with his base.

How Is Nick Saban Influencing Donald Trump’s NIL Reform Plans for Alabama Crimson Tide?

The University of Alabama has hosted Trump consistently and has become more closely associated with him. Trump attended Alabama’s game against LSU in 2019 and will return to Tuscaloosa in 2025 to deliver the university’s commencement address. Sharing the stage with Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban only reinforced the political implications of the visit. Trump has referred to Alabama as “Trump Country,” and his connection to Saban appears to be more than ceremonial.

Following the joint appearance with Saban, Trump reportedly began exploring an executive order to bring federal oversight to the NIL landscape. Saban has been an outspoken critic of the current NIL chaos, and Trump seems to be using that concern to frame his own potential reform plans. Though he mistakenly referred to the coach as “Lou Saban” in one speech, Trump’s pattern of attending Alabama games, praising the school, and working alongside Saban suggests more than just admiration — it’s a budding policy alliance.

Why does Donald Trump attend college football games in the South?

Southern college football games offer Trump more than just a seat near the 50-yard line. They give him a receptive audience, as most of the voters in the conservative area are inclined to support him and its a massive stage for Trump to show his presence.

Chants of “USA” and “Four more years” have echoed through stadiums during his appearances, a reminder of how football settings can double as campaign rallies. His strategy has been solid: show up at the right games, in the right places, and reap the public relations reward.

That’s why Trump’s football itinerary often includes contests in swing or solidly Republican states like Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and Iowa. These events help him maintain visibility.