Nick Saban joining President Donald Trump for 2025 Alabama commencement speech

Former Alabama head coach and current ESPN College GameDay analyst Nick Saban will join President Donald Trump during the University of Alabama’s special commencent ceremony Thursday night, according to the school. University president Stuart R. Bell will also be in attendance for the special ceremony.

“The ceremony will celebrate the UA class of 2025 and feature an address from President Donald J. Trump along with comments from UA President Stuart R. Bell and Nick Saban, former coach of the Crimson Tide football team,” the university’s press release said. “Candidates for spring commencement will have priority seating as part of this special event. Free tickets were also offered to graduates’ guests; summer and fall graduates and their guests; as well as a limited number of tickets for faculty, staff and other students.”

Trump is scheduled to deliver the keynote address at a special commencement ceremony beginning at 6:30 pm CT inside Coleman Coliseum on the Alabama campus. The special ceremony will address seniors and faculty members but is separate from the school’s regular college-specific commencement ceremonies scheduled Friday through Sunday. Those previously-scheduled commencement ceremonies will include graduate name announcements and degree conferrals.

Attendees to Trump’s special commencement ceremony are encouraged to arrive at least two hours early due to enhanced security measures. Doors will open at 3 pm CT.

Jalen Hurts, other ‘prominent’ Eagles don’t attend Super Bowl celebration at White House

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts and other “prominent players” didn’t attend the Super Bowl LIX celebration at the White House on Monday, according to John Clark of NBC Sports Philadelphia. It was reportedly due to “scheduling conflicts.”

It’s currently unclear what the conflict is, based on Monday’s reporting. Hurts was also named among Time Magazine’s most influential people of 2025, so the post-Super Bowl recognition has been notable.

Hurts, who played collegiately at Alabama and Oklahoma, was included among TIME Magazine’s “Icons” and nominated by New York Yankees great Derek Jeter, who penned a short blurb explaining his appreciation for Hurts. Hurts was joined on TIME’s “Icons” list by actress Demi Moore and four-time Paris Olympic gold medal-winning swimmer Leon Marchand, among others.

Hurts is fresh off the best season of his five-year professional career after leading the Eagles to a commanding 40-22 victory over the two-time defending champion Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX on Feb. 9 in New Orleans.

Hurts went on to be named Super Bowl MVP after throwing for 221 yards and two touchdowns on 17-of-22 passing. He also ran for 72 yards and a score on 11 attempts. It followed up a stellar Super Bowl LVII performance two years prior, despite a loss to the Chiefs.

— On3’s Nick Kosko contributed to this report.