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East Rutherford Today
By the People, for the People
Trump Order Aims to Maintain Army-Navy Game's TV Exclusivity
The annual college football matchup faces potential scheduling conflicts with expanded College Football Playoff.
Mar. 22, 2026 at 6:10am
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President Donald Trump issued an executive order on Friday aimed at maintaining an exclusive time window in December for the annual Army-Navy football game. The order directs the FCC chairperson to work with the CFP committee, the NCAA, and media partners to protect the Army-Navy game's exclusive television slot, which could be threatened by potential expansion of the College Football Playoff.
Why it matters
The Army-Navy game is a longstanding tradition and source of morale for the U.S. military. The executive order seeks to ensure the game maintains its national spotlight and viewership, which could be diminished if it has to compete with additional CFP playoff games.
The details
Played on the second weekend of December since 2009, the Army-Navy game is typically a standalone event on the college football schedule. However, discussions about expanding the 12-team College Football Playoff could add an additional round of games that would also be played that same weekend. This could create scheduling conflicts and dilute the national focus on the military academies' matchup.
- The Army-Navy game has been played the second weekend of December since 2009.
- This year's Army-Navy game is scheduled for December 12, 2026 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
- The first round of CFP games are currently scheduled for December 18-19, 2026.
The players
Donald Trump
The former President of the United States who issued the executive order to protect the Army-Navy game's television exclusivity.
College Football Playoff (CFP) Committee
The governing body that oversees the College Football Playoff, which is considering expanding the playoff format.
National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)
The organization that governs college sports, including the Army-Navy football game and the College Football Playoff.
What they’re saying
“Such scheduling conflicts weaken the national focus on our Military Service Academies and detract from a morale-building event of vital interest to the Department of War.”
— Donald Trump
What’s next
The FCC chairperson will work with the CFP committee, NCAA, and media partners to determine how to protect the Army-Navy game's exclusive television window, as directed by the executive order.
The takeaway
This executive order highlights the importance of the Army-Navy football game as a longstanding tradition and morale-booster for the U.S. military. It demonstrates the government's willingness to intervene to ensure the game maintains its national spotlight, even as the college football landscape evolves with potential playoff expansions.
