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American conference commissioner Tim Pernetti praised President Donald Trump after Trump signed an executive order protecting the exclusive broadcast window for the annual Army-Navy football game.
Pernetti expressed the conference’s “deep gratitude” for the order.
“The American Conference is deeply grateful to President Trump for his strong leadership in issuing the historic order to preserve America’s Game,” Pernetti said in a statement.
“This is a meaningful step that protects a beloved national tradition and reinforces what makes the Army-Navy game so special to our country.
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President Donald Trump holds a signed order during the presentation of the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy with the Navy Midshipmen football team in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, March 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
“The Army-Navy Game represents far more than football. It honors our service academies, highlights the character and commitment of our future leaders, and brings Americans together around values that matter deeply, including service and sacrifice.
“This announcement is a positive step for the sport, for our service academies and for the lasting legacy of America’s Game. We are proud to be part of the team working to protect it.”
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President Donald Trump is escorted onto the field to participate in the ceremonial coin toss before the start of an Army-Navy game at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on December 13, 2025. (Stephanie Scarbrough/AP Photo)
Trump signed the order Friday as he presented the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy to the Navy football team in the East Room of the White House. The order directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Department of Commerce to coordinate with relevant parties, including the NCAA, the College Football Playoff (CFP) and broadcast partners, to secure an exclusive broadcast window for the stand-alone game.
The announcement came amid growing concern that an expanding College Football Playoff calendar could interfere with the game’s traditional date, which since 2009 has been played exclusively on the second Saturday in December.
First played in 1890, the classic rivalry has been played annually since 1930 and typically draws 7 million to 8 million viewers, making it one of the highest-rated regular season games in college football. The current television agreement with CBS Sports runs until 2038.
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President Donald Trump tosses a coin before an Army-Navy game in Baltimore on Dec. 13, 2025. (Alex Wroblewski/AFP via Getty Images)
Trump, who has attended several Army-Navy battles as president, framed the move in January as an act of patriotism, writing on social media: “Under my administration, the second Saturday in December belongs to the Army-Navy and ONLY the Army-Navy!”
As the college football postseason structure continues to evolve, this announcement signals a significant commitment by the administration to preserve the standalone greatness of a matchup defined by the phrase “sing second.”
