Trump Golfs with College Football Legends Saban and Meyer

The former college coaches joined the president and Florida governor for a round on Sunday.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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U.S. President Donald Trump spent Sunday golfing with retired college football coaches Nick Saban and Urban Meyer, as well as Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, at Trump's West Palm Beach course. The foursome's pairing caught the attention of the sports world, as Saban and Meyer have been vocal advocates for addressing key issues facing college athletics, including NIL rules and the transfer portal.

Why it matters

Trump has long been a fan of Saban and has sought his input on college sports policy. This latest golf outing suggests the president continues to value the perspectives of high-profile college coaches as he navigates the evolving landscape of collegiate athletics.

The details

According to reports, Trump, Saban, Meyer, and DeSantis played 18 holes together on Sunday at Trump's course in West Palm Beach, Florida. The reason for the particular grouping is unclear, but Saban and Meyer have been outspoken about the need for legislative action to address challenges facing college sports, such as name, image and likeness (NIL) rules and the transfer portal. Trump has previously expressed interest in having Saban involved in efforts to 'fix' college athletics.

  • The golf outing took place on Sunday, February 15, 2026.

The players

Donald Trump

The 47th President of the United States, currently serving his second term.

Nick Saban

Retired college football coach who led the University of Alabama to multiple national championships.

Urban Meyer

Retired college football coach who won national titles at the University of Florida and Ohio State University.

Ron DeSantis

The current Governor of Florida.

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What they’re saying

“President Trump is a great sports fan. He loves sports. He loves football, he loves all kinds of sports. And if you ever talk to him, that's all he wants to talk about.”

— Nick Saban (The Pat McAfee Show)

“I know him, and I got to know him because he brought his team to the White House. You know, he had the team, he won a lot. And I got to know him. He's a fantastic guy, and he's somebody that really, they should get involved in college sports in terms of making sure that, you know, it all works out.”

— Donald Trump (The Pat McAfee Show)

What’s next

The White House has not announced any specific policy initiatives or commissions stemming from this golf outing, but Trump's continued interest in seeking Saban's input on college sports issues suggests further collaboration may be on the horizon.

The takeaway

This high-profile golf pairing underscores the ongoing influence of prominent college football coaches like Saban and Meyer, as well as Trump's desire to leverage their expertise to address the evolving challenges facing collegiate athletics.