President Donald Trump issued an executive order Friday barring broadcasts of the College Football Playoff and other postseason games during the annual Army-Navy matchup in December.
Trump directed the Commerce Secretary and the FCC chairperson to coordinate with the CFP Committee, the NCAA and media rights partners to secure an exclusive broadcast window for the game, traditionally played on the second Saturday of each December.
Trump’s order also mentions a possible expansion of the CFP, which could potentially lead to an earlier start for the playoffs. In the first two years of the 12-team format, the first-round games were the weekend after Army-Navy, which since 2009 has been off the first Saturday in December due to the conference championship games.
This year, the Army-Navy game is scheduled for December 12 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. CFP first-round games are set for Dec. 18-19
If the playoffs expand to 24 teams, a model that has been discussed, at least one more week of games would be needed. Starting the postseason in early December will be a consideration. A short expansion to 16 games would not necessarily change the number of weeks required for the playoffs.
“Such scheduling conflicts weaken the national focus on our military service academies and detract from a morale-building event of vital interest to the War Department,” Trump’s executive order said. “Accordingly, it is the policy of the United States that no college football game, particularly in college football’s CFP or other postseason games, shall be televised in conflict with a live Army-Navy game.”
Trump signed the executive order after hosting the Navy football team at the White House to recognize the Midshipmen who won the Commander in Chief’s Trophy last season against the Army and Air Force.
Army athletic director Tom Theodorakis and American Conference commissioner Tim Pernetti issued statements praising Trump’s order.
“We are grateful for the president’s leadership and for everyone working to protect, preserve and unite around America’s sport and the values it stands for,” Theodorakis said.
Pernetti said: “The American Conference is deeply grateful to President Trump for his strong leadership in issuing the historic executive order to preserve America’s game. This is a meaningful step that protects a cherished national tradition and makes the Army-Navy Game special to our country.”
Army and Navy have played every year since the 1930s, including the pandemic-altered 2020 season and World War II. There have been 126 meetings, and other neutral sites include the NFL homes of the Philadelphia Eagles and Baltimore Ravens.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
