Saturday’s Texas-Tennessee showdown already had everything: No. 1 Texas, a packed Neyland Stadium, College GameDay and Arch Manning playing in the stadium where his uncle Peyton became a legend.
Then President Donald Trump showed up.
Air Force One flew low over Neyland Stadium before kickoff, giving the more than 100,000 fans an entrance unlike anything you’ll normally see on a college football Saturday. Trump later appeared on the video board, drawing a mixed reaction that included plenty of cheers along with audible boos.
But once the game started, Texas spoiled the party.
The Longhorns escaped Knoxville with a 20-17 win, surviving Tennessee in one of the biggest games of the weekend.
Trump’s appearance only added another layer to an already massive SEC showdown. Between Air Force One, 100,000-plus fans and a game decided by three points, Rocky Top felt more like the center of the country than just another college football stadium Saturday.
