The stage is set for a GOP bro fest between President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the College Football Playoff National Championship in Miami Monday night. Both will attend the title game between the No. 10 Miami Hurricanes and the No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers.
Trump and Rubio have only gotten closer over their shared passion for football, Axios reported. “They like to bro out over football. It’s not all talk about Venezuela,” an insider told the outlet.
The two have long made their love of the gridiron known, but this game comes with added intrigue for the commander-in-chief and his high-ranking cabinet member. Rubio hails from Miami, where the game is taking place, and also earned his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Miami School of Law in 1996. Trump’s granddaughter, Kai Trump, has signed to play golf for the University of Miami next year.
Rubio will likely root for his alma mater, but the Secretary of State has connections with Indiana’s Heisman-winning quarterback, Fernando Mendoza. Like Rubio, Mendoza hails from Miami. Both are Cuban and are outspokenly proud of their heritage. And, as if the world could get any smaller, Rubio is friends with Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal, who played high school football with Mendoza’s dad in Miami.
Both Rubio’s son and Mendoza played prep football in the 305. Mendoza played at Cristobal’s alma mater, Christopher Columbus, while Rubio’s son, Anthony, went to Belen Jesuit.
And while we are spinning the Miami web of connections, the Indiana quarterback’s mom, Elsa, played tennis for the Hurricanes.
But back to the GOP attending the CFP Title Game. Axios reported Trump hasn’t declared who will be his dog in the fight, though the president has praised Mendoza this season.
Monday night’s game at Hard Rock Stadium is the third College Football Playoff National Championship Trump has attended. He attended the 2018 championship game between Georgia and Alabama, as well as the 2020 title game between LSU and Clemson.
This past season, Trump attended the Army-Navy football game and participated in the pre-game coin toss. Trump also attended an NFL game this season between the Detroit Lions and the Washington Commanders. The former high school football player-turned-president also provided a little play-by-play in the broadcasting booth during the game.
Miami was the last team into the 12-team CFP field. Before the final bracket was announced in December, Rubio jokingly said Trump should scrap the postseason altogether if the Hurricanes didn’t make the playoffs.
Miami made the playoffs and dominated — beating Texas A&M, Ohio State, and Ole Miss on their way to the championship game. Indiana has made its opponents look junior varsity in their quest for the title. The Hoosiers handled Alabama and Oregon easily to punch their ticket to South Beach.
The College Football Playoff National Championship kicks off Monday at 7:30 p.m. ET.
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