Trump expected to attend LSU-Alabama football game

President Trump is expected to attend this Saturday’s college football game between the Louisiana State University Tigers and Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, according to sources familiar with the plans.

The game is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. local time at Bryant-Denny Stadium on the Alabama campus. The game between divisional rivals is among the most anticipated of the season, pitting the two top-ranked teams in the nation against each other. ESPN’s College Gameday is set to broadcast from near the stadium.

{mosads}One Alabama GOP lawmaker said he heard Trump would be attending through word of mouth, but that nothing was definite. The University of Alabama did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) put out an advisory on Monday evening for a VIP movement in Tuscaloosa on Saturday, a notice that typically indicates when and where the president is traveling.

Sports Illustrated first reported that the university was making preparations for Trump to attend the game.

Saturday’s game will mark the third sporting event in recent weeks that Trump has attended.

Trump took in Game 5 of the World Series at Nationals Park late last month. The crowd heartily booed him and a cohort of Republican lawmakers when they were shown on the video board between innings.

The president on Saturday night attended a mixed martial arts match at Madison Square Garden in New York. He and his adult sons received a mix of cheers and boos as they made their way to their seats.

Trump may find a friendlier reception in Alabama, a state he won by 28 percentage points in 2016.

The president attended the College Football Playoff championship in 2018 between the Crimson Tide and the Georgia Bulldogs. He was on the field for the playing of the national anthem and stayed for the first half before departing.

LSU and Alabama, two teams in the West division of the Southeastern Conference, have played each other more than 80 times, with the first head-to-head occurring more than 120 years ago.

Scott Wong contributed.

Updated: 5:04 p.m.