Trump Signs Order Protecting Army-Navy Game from Playoff Conflicts

The executive order reserves the second Saturday in December for the historic rivalry game.

Mar. 23, 2026 at 4:04am

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President Trump signed the "Preserving America's Game" executive order on Friday, directing that no college football postseason game be broadcast in a manner that directly conflicts with the Army-Navy game. The order reserves the second Saturday in December, and the four-hour window that comes with it, exclusively for the rivalry that has outlasted every trend in American sports.

Why it matters

The Army-Navy game is more than just a football game - it represents a tradition and patriotism that transcends the sport. With the expansion of the College Football Playoff, the game was at risk of being overshadowed by higher-profile matchups engineered for television ratings. Trump's order aims to protect this historic event and the values it embodies.

The details

Trump signed the executive order at the White House during a visit from the Navy Midshipmen, who defeated Army 17-16 in December to claim the Commander in Chief's Trophy and cap a historic 11-2 season. The president framed the order as necessary to preserve the "sacred four-hour time slot traditionally reserved for Army-Navy" from being encroached upon by the College Football Playoff expansion.

  • Trump signed the "Preserving America's Game" executive order on Friday, March 22, 2026.
  • The Army-Navy game is played annually on the second Saturday in December.

The players

Donald Trump

The 45th President of the United States, who signed the executive order to protect the Army-Navy game from scheduling conflicts with the College Football Playoff.

Brian Newberry

The head coach of the Navy Midshipmen, who expressed gratitude for the president's action to preserve the "sanctity of the Army-Navy game".

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What they’re saying

“The annual Army-Navy game is truly one of the most special occasions in all of sports, but in recent years, the College Football Playoff expansion has encroached on this sacred four-hour time slot traditionally reserved for Army-Navy.”

— Donald Trump, President of the United States

“Thank you for signing that executive order and protecting the sanctity of the Army-Navy game. It's a game with a soul, and it deserves to be protected. Thank you very much.”

— Brian Newberry, Head Coach, Navy Midshipmen

What’s next

The executive order is expected to face legal challenges, but Trump expressed confidence that the administration will prevail in court. The order establishes a clear marker that any network or conference scheduling against the Army-Navy game will now do so with heightened scrutiny.

The takeaway

This executive order goes beyond just protecting a football game - it's about preserving a tradition that represents the values of service, duty, and patriotism that are central to the Army-Navy rivalry. In an era where college sports are increasingly driven by money and ratings, Trump's action signals that some things are worth protecting even if they can't compete in the open market.