This year's College Football Playoff championship game is unlike any other.
Indiana is not only playing for a title, but is decisively favored to win a title. A Hoosiers victory would complete one of the all-time great turnarounds in sports history, as they went just 7-27 in the three seasons prior to coach Curt Cignetti's arrival in Bloomington.
Miami is quite an underdog story as well. While the Hurricanes have an expensive roster, they entered the playoff as the No. 10 seed and had to win twice as an underdog before handling business against Ole Miss in the semifinal. A win for Mario Cristobal's squad would complete an improbable run that began with a surprise inclusion in the 12-team bracket in early December.
The national championship game includes plenty of new faces, but one very familiar face could be in attendance.
Here's what you need to know about U.S. President Donald Trump's whereabouts for the College Football Playoff championship game.
MORE CFP CHAMPIONSHIP GAME NEWS:
- Expert prediction of Indiana-Miami final
- How Mario Cristobal, Miami have become clutch
- Curt Cignetti's past meets his future in semis
- Roster breakdown: Who has more blue-chippers?
- Why Miami gets to keep all CFP revenue
- Is Indiana better than Joe Burrow-led LSU?
- Miami's run has a March Madness feel
Is Donald Trump at the CFP championship game?
Trump is expected to be in the building for the national championship game between Indiana and Miami on Monday night, a White House official told The Athletic.
The College Football Playoff confirmed it expects Trump at the game, urging fans to show up earlier than they normally would due to extra security measures.
Earlier Monday, Trump released a presidential message commemorating the College Football Playoff championship game.
"Tonight, the College Football Playoff National Championship brings a season of dedication, sacrifice, and hard work to a climactic conclusion. It stands as the final measure of months of preparation, resolve, and competition that have long defined college football—a beloved and uniquely American tradition," Trump said, adding, "Melania and I congratulate the Indiana Hoosiers and the Miami Hurricanes on making it to the College Football Playoff National Championship."
Trump previously attended the national championship game in 2018, when Alabama won an overtime thriller over Georgia, and in 2020, when Joe Burrow and LSU finished off a historically dominant season against Clemson.
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Why is Donald Trump at the CFP championship game?
Trump has been a frequent fan at college football games during his political career. Indiana vs. Miami would be the 12th college football game he has attended since he was elected to his first term in 2016, and it would be the eighth he's attended as a sitting president.
In addition to attending the Army-Navy Game in December, Trump attended a Washington Commanders game against the Detroit Lions late in the NFL season and even made an appearance in the Fox broadcast booth. Last year, Trump became the first sitting president to attend the Super Bowl.
Miami, where Monday's game will be played, is a particularly convenient location for Trump because he has a residence at Mar-a-Lago in nearby Fort Lauderdale. Trump arrived at Mar-a-Lago on Friday and stayed there through the weekend, but he is set to return to the White House after the game.
Who is in the box with Donald Trump?
This section will be updated.
Trump is expected to attend the game with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who graduated from law school at Miami and represented Florida in the U.S. Senate before being nominated to join Trump's cabinet.