Goodman: On college football, Trump was right about one thing

**The One Time Trump Actually Cooked: Why Army-Navy is the Last Sacred Thing in a Fake College Football World** *This is an opinion column.* Look, Donald Trump’s list of questionable takes on college football is longer than the line for a $15 churro at Disney World. But credit where it’s due: the man finally found the end zone. Backed by a Presidential executive order, Trump is making the case that the Army-Navy game should forever own its own Saturday on the fall calendar. No distractions. No competition. Just the most pure, high-stakes rivalry in American history standing alone in the spotlight. And honestly? The vibes are immaculate. The Army-Navy game is quickly becoming the only thing left that reminds us of what college football used to be before it turned into a corporate fever dream. Traditionally played on the second Saturday of December, the game’s placement is currently under threat by the ever-shifting, chaotic college football calendar. My message to the bureaucrats: Don't you dare ruin this. **The People Have Spoken (And It’s Not Even Close)** I recently ran a poll on **205focus.com** asking if we should kill the SEC Championship game and whether Army-Navy deserves its own day. The results were an absolute landslide. A staggering 76 percent of you said "Yes." That’s not just a "win"—that’s a total ratioing of the status quo. It’s easy to see why the fans are fed up. Most of the sport feels like a mercenary league now. Players are hopping in the transfer portal faster than you can refresh your feed. Loyalty is a myth, and school pride is basically just whatever is written on the NIL check. Paying players is one thing, but the constant "bag chasing" has turned school spirit into a cold, transactional business. Then you look at the service academies. These guys aren't playing for a draft stock or a luxury SUV. They’re committed to the flag. They’re playing a game today so they can fight for your freedom tomorrow. Is the country broken? Maybe. But as long as we’re still producing men willing to trade NIL millions for a uniform and a mission, there’s hope. Army-Navy isn't just a game; it’s the GOAT of American sports. It represents sacrifice, honor, and courage—ideals that deserve more than just a 3-hour TV window. They deserve the whole day. **The Suit and Whistle Problem** Trump’s "Saving College Sports" roundtable back in April felt like a bit of a clout-chase, but he accidentally stumbled onto a truth. While he was busy trying to "save" a sport that is currently generating record-breaking revenue, he missed the real villains: the overpaid administrators. Why is SEC commissioner Greg Sankey bagging over $4 million a year while schools are out here cutting "non-revenue" sports? Make it make sense. Do you really think Alabama AD Greg Byrne is going to slash his $2.3 million salary before he cuts the swimming and diving teams? Don't hold your breath. And don't even get me started on the coaches. The American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) just voted to play post-season games on the same day as Army-Navy. They think giving the academies a "TV slot" is enough. Wrong. These coaches wouldn't know sacrifice if it hit them in the headset. In the words of Alabama’s Nate Oats, they’re basically glorified PE teachers. Are we really going to let $91 million spoiled brats like Lane Kiffin ruin the Army-Navy tradition just so he has more time to cherry-pick the transfer portal? Absolutely not. **The Real Winners** While the "Big Boys" are busy chasing TV markets, the service academies are actually getting better. They’ve mastered the art of roster retention and continuity—concepts that are becoming extinct elsewhere. Last season, Navy went 11-2 and caught a massive dub against Cincinnati in the Liberty Bowl. Army went 7-6 and absolutely cleared UConn in the Fenway Bowl. And the Army-Navy game itself? A 17-16 Navy win that was, as usual, absolute cinema. The solution is simple: Kill the conference championship games. Play Army-Navy on the first Saturday of December. Start the 24-team playoff the week after. Let the heroes have their parade and their Saturday. In a world of fake loyalty and corporate greed, Army-Navy is the only thing that’s still real. Let's keep it that way. *** **MAILBAG SOUND OFF** *Got a hot take for Joe? Want to vent about the state of the game? Drop an email and let your voice be heard. Your question might just end up in the next reader mailbag.*