Up to date Sept. 26, 2026, 12:13 p.m. ET
Arch Manning and Texas are taking up Tennessee soccer in Week 4. Comply with stay updates right here.
With Texas making its first-ever journey to Knoxville to face Tennessee in one of many season’s marquee SEC matchups, Neyland Stadium is anticipated to be Week 4’s hottest ticket, full of celebrities, high-profile visitors and followers from throughout the nation.
Amongst them is President Donald Trump.
The U.S. President is anticipated to spend his Saturday on Rocky High for the top-15 showdown between the Longhorns and the Volunteers, which is to kick off at midday ET.
The quarterback matchup on Saturday options Tennessee true freshman Faizon Brandon and Texas second-year starter Arch Manning, the nephew of Volunteers legend Peyton Manning, who can also be on Rocky High for the SEC conflict as nicely.
Trump has regularly attended main sporting occasions throughout his two presidential phrases, along with his appearances usually eliciting boos from followers. He’s additionally anticipated to be on the Presidents Cup in Illinois this weekend, the place the US is taking up the Worldwide staff at Medinah Nation Membership.
It is the second soccer recreation he is attended this calendar yr, as he was in Miami at Laborious Rock Stadium again in January to observe Indiana win its first nationwide championship towards Miami.
Here is what to know on why Trump is at Texas-Tennessee:
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Will Donald Trump be at Texas vs Tennessee soccer recreation?
Sure, Trump is anticipated to attend the No. 1 Longhorns-No. 13 Vols conflict on Saturday in Knoxville, a White Home official confirmed to USA TODAY on Sept. 23.
Why is Donald Trump at Texas vs Tennessee soccer recreation?
Whereas the principle purpose for his go to to Rocky High on Saturday stays unclear, the president, a widely known sports activities fan, seems to be attending what’s broadly thought of one of many premier regular-season school soccer matchups of the yr.
Safety impacts for Trump’s go to to Tennessee-Texas
Shortly after the announcement of Trump’s anticipated look, the Knoxville Police Division informed the Knoxville Information Sentinel, a part of the USA TODAY Community, that followers ought to anticipate an elevated safety presence in and across the stadium.
“In case you’re attending the sport, plan accordingly and permit further journey time,” the Knoxville Police Division mentioned in a press release.
Trump’s presence — as at any time a sitting U.S. President makes a public look — has created further safety checkpoints round Neyland Stadium and an “prolonged safety perimeter.”
A lot discuss Trump’s look at Saturday’s recreation has been on the impact it has on each groups’ communication methods, relying on the motion of Trump, one thing that Texas coach Steve Sarkisian dropped at consideration this week.
“One factor we’ve got to concentrate on is when the president goes to a recreation, any time he enters, leaves or modifications places throughout the stadium, they reduce all communication, in order that they reduce your headsets to coaches and so they reduce headsets with coach to participant communication.” Sarkisian mentioned throughout his Zoom availability on Thursday, Sept. 24. “So, it’s important to have a plan for that, if and or when it occurs and you do not get any warning.”
Indiana coach Curt Cignetti refuted Sarkisian’s later level that Miami’s communications went down throughout the Hurricanes’ ultimate drive of final season’s Faculty Soccer Playoff nationwide championship recreation.
“We received a bunch of BS,” Cignetti mentioned with fun throughout his weekly radio present on Sept. 24.
Did Donald Trump seem on ‘Faculty GameDay’?
No, Trump didn’t seem on ESPN’s school soccer pregame present earlier than kickoff between Texas-Tennessee.
What number of instances has Donald Trump been to a school soccer recreation?
Saturday’s recreation will mark the thirteenth school soccer recreation Trump will attend as president, president-elect or presidential nominee. Here is a breakdown of when Trump has attended a school soccer recreation, each in-and-out of workplace:
- Dec. 10, 2016: Military vs. Navy at M&T Financial institution Stadium, Baltimore *
- Jan. 8, 2018: Alabama vs. Georgia (CFP Nationwide Championship) at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
- Dec. 8, 2018: Military vs. Navy at Lincoln Monetary Area, Philadelphia
- Nov. 9, 2019: Alabama vs. LSU at Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Dec. 14, 2019: Military vs. Navy at Lincoln Monetary Area, Philadelphia
- Dec. 12, 2020: Military vs. Navy at Michie Stadium, U.S. Navy Academy in Highland Falls, New York
- Sept. 11, 2023: Iowa vs. Iowa State at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Iowa **
- Sept. 28, 2024: Alabama vs. Georgia at Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Alabama **
- Jan. 13, 2020: Clemson vs. LSU (CFP Nationwide Championship) at New Orleans at Superdome, New Orleans
- Sept. 28, 2024: Alabama vs. Georgia at Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Alabama **
- Dec. 14, 2024: Military vs. Navy at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland *
- Dec. 13, 2025: Military vs. Navy at M&T Financial institution Stadium, in Baltimore, Maryland
- Jan. 19, 2026: Indiana vs. Miami (CFP Nationwide Championship) at Laborious Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
- Sept. 26, 2026: Texas vs. Tenenssee at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee
* Denotes when Trump was president-elect whereas on the recreation
** Denotes when Trump was the Republican nominee for the 2024 Presidential Election
Be sure you try USA TODAY Sports activities’ new Faculty Soccer Unfiltered podcast, hosted by USA TODAY Sports activities columnist Blake Toppmeyer. You’ll be able to stream on YouTube or obtain through Apple podcasts and Spotify.
