Trump Signs Order to Protect Army-Navy Game Time Slot

One of America's most treasured sporting traditions just got a presidential shield against the pressures of big money TV deals.

President Trump announced plans to sign an executive order securing an exclusive four-hour broadcast window for the Army-Navy football game on the second Saturday of every December. The order ensures no other postseason college football game can compete for that time slot, protecting a rivalry that dates back to 1890.

The timing matters. College football's playoff system is expanding, creating more postseason games hungry for prime broadcast slots. That expansion threatened to push the service academy showdown to less favorable times or split viewer attention with competing games.

Trump made the announcement after attending his seventh Army-Navy game on December 13 in Baltimore, where Navy claimed a 17-16 victory over Army. The president called it "one of our Greatest American Traditions" featuring "unmatched patriotism, courage, and honor."

The game holds unique meaning beyond typical college rivalries. Players from both teams will graduate to serve as military officers, potentially fighting side by side in future conflicts. That reality adds weight to a competition that's about more than football scores.

The Bright Side

While politics often divides, protecting shared traditions can unite. The Army-Navy game draws Americans together across party lines to celebrate service, sacrifice, and fair competition. It's one of the few sporting events where everyone in the stadium truly is on the same team, just cheering for different jerseys.

The executive order sends a clear message that some traditions deserve protection from pure commercial interests. In an era where sports increasingly chase revenue over ritual, preserving space for games that represent something bigger than advertising dollars feels significant.

The move also recognizes what the service academies give up to play football. These aren't athletes chasing NFL dreams or NIL money. They're future officers balancing rigorous military training with athletics, playing for pride and tradition alone.

Navy currently holds the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy after this year's victory. The trophy goes to whichever service academy wins the most games against the others, including Air Force. That hardware represents bragging rights that last all year in dining halls and on bases worldwide.

The December tradition now has guaranteed protection, ensuring future generations can gather around screens nationwide to watch America's future military leaders compete with the same honor they'll bring to defending the country.