Miami Gardens, FL – President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are scheduled to attend the College Football Playoff National Championship game in Miami Gardens, bringing national political attention to one of the biggest sporting events of the year.
The game will be played on January 19, 2026, at Hard Rock Stadium and will feature the Indiana Hoosiers against the Miami Hurricanes.
Rubio, who is from Florida and has long ties to the South Florida area, is expected to support Miami in the championship matchup.
Trump has not publicly declared a favorite, though people familiar with his comments say he has spoken positively in recent weeks about Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who won the Heisman Trophy during the 2025 season.
Both teams reached the championship after high profile semifinal victories.
Indiana advanced after a convincing win in the Peach Bowl, while Miami secured its place with a late comeback victory in the Fiesta Bowl, setting up a title game that will be played in front of a largely home state crowd for the Hurricanes.
The appearance continues a pattern of Trump attending major sporting events, while Rubio has frequently participated in high visibility events tied to Florida athletics.
Their attendance is expected to draw additional attention to the championship beyond the usual national audience.
Local officials and event organizers expect the game to bring significant crowds to the Miami area, with fans traveling from across the country for the final game of the college football season and the crowning of a new national champion.