<p class="wp-block-paragraph">President Donald Trump announced on October 2, 2026, that he will attend the college football game between the University of Alabama and the University of Georgia scheduled for next week. This announcement was made during a rally in Mobile, Alabama, where he was campaigning for Republican candidates ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">At the rally, Trump stated, “We love Alabama. In fact, we love it so much, I’ll be here again next Saturday to watch a football game between Georgia and Alabama. They say it’s going to be a good game, I would think so.”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Trump referred to the game as “big-time college football” and also discussed the Senate-passed Protect College Sports Act, which aims to create a federal framework for name, image, and likeness payments, cap direct payments to athletes, create rules for transfers, and establish regulations governing college sports.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Trump has a history of blending politics with college football, particularly in Southern states. Recently, he attended a game in Knoxville, Tennessee, where the Volunteers faced the Texas Longhorns. He also attended the Alabama-Georgia game in Tuscaloosa in September 2024 while campaigning for president, where he received a notable welcome at Bryant-Denny Stadium.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">During the rally, Trump expressed support for Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), the former Auburn University football coach who is running for governor. Trump recalled his initial doubts about Tuberville's ability to win statewide due to his success against Alabama, stating, “He was a great coach, but he had a problem. I said he can’t win.” Tuberville's Auburn Tigers defeated Alabama six times in a row from 2002 to 2007.</p>