Football

Radio hosts Clay Travis and Buck Sexton told listeners their Monday White House meeting with President Trump quickly turned from policy discussion into an extended conversation about college football. Sexton said he tried to redirect the conversation toward national issues, but Trump repeatedly brought it back to the sport, calling the exchange "a hangout session."

Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly joined by phone during the meeting and jokingly ribbed Travis with a "go Gators," a nod to his son's walk-on football career at the University of Florida. The gathering came days after Trump attended the Texas-Tennessee college football game in Knoxville, where he praised Texas quarterback Arch Manning, part of the Manning football family. Other administration figures present or mentioned included Stephen Miller, Steven Cheung, Tulsi Gabbard, Chamath Palihapitiya, and Natalie Harp, while former Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also stopped by, saying she plans to spend more time in New Hampshire after leaving her post. The anecdote offers a lighter glimpse into informal West Wing dynamics.

More than 650 people have signed a petition calling for the removal of the president and vice president of the Marion County Youth Football League in Ocala, Florida. Parents say the leadership has fostered "hate and division" and want new role models put in place for children in the program.

Several parents told local media they have withdrawn their children from the league following disputes with its leaders. One parent, Kenneth Carr, a former coach, said he was barred from coaching after league officials accused him of using a Facebook post — meant to honor his son, who was killed in a 2022 shooting — to recruit players, an intent he denies. Another parent said his son was removed from a team after a fight he claims his child was not involved in, and is weighing legal action. The league has not responded to requests for comment on the petition or the parents' concerns.

President Trump attended the marquee Texas-Tennessee college football matchup in Knoxville, a sold-out, 100,000-strong showdown at Neyland Stadium billed as the teams' first meeting since 1969 and featuring ESPN's "College GameDay." His visit brought heightened security and road closures, and when he appeared on the video board about 20 minutes into the game, the crowd largely cheered, though some fans booed and one tailgate sidewalk was chalked with "Dump Trump."

The appearance came as Trump has faced hostile crowds at other major sporting events this year, including NBA Finals and World Cup matches, amid slumping approval ratings and GOP warnings of steep midterm losses. Several Trump voters in Knoxville voiced discomfort with his handling of the Iran war and his combative style, even as they praised other policies, while a transgender fan wore a suffragette-themed outfit as a protest statement. Many attendees, however, said the day was primarily about football rather than politics, with Sens. Bill Hagerty and Marsha Blackburn joining Trump for the game.

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves moved to clarify that the National Guard has not been deployed for Saturday's Ole Miss-LSU game, despite rumors circulating after his visit to the White House. Reeves' comments came amid heightened attention to the matchup, which marks Lane Kiffin's first return to Oxford since leaving Ole Miss for LSU after a contentious split.

Mississippi officials say security will be at an unprecedented level. State Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell said state troopers on hand will roughly triple from a typical game day, with coordination planned alongside Louisiana State Police. Reeves warned attendees against causing trouble, citing the largest combined state and local police presence in Oxford's history. The Mobile Police Department is also sending mounted officers to assist, though officials note this is part of a longstanding, routine partnership rather than a response to specific threats. Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry joked about needing the Guard himself. Kiffin acknowledged real safety concerns are being addressed but downplayed the drama ahead of kickoff.