During a remarkable event in the 2024 college football season, JD Vance, who was then a candidate for Vice President, received an enthusiastic reception from college football fans in Greenville, North Carolina. After arriving in the afternoon, Vance and his wife visited a well-known bar, where he engaged with locals who were thrilled to meet the Ohio senator. Later, they attended the game at East Carolina University’s Dowdy-Ficklin Stadium, where supporters rallied behind Trump’s running mate.
As they approached the stadium, a sizable crowd erupted in chants of “USA” as they stepped out of their vehicles accompanied by their security team. Prior to the kickoff of the game between the East Carolina University Pirates and the Appalachian State University Mountaineers, JD and Usha took their place on the field for the national anthem. Although Vance does not have a particular allegiance to North Carolina football, he has been a devoted supporter of his alma mater, the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Vance had previously joked with former President Donald Trump that his ties to Ohio State University might hinder the campaign’s appeal in Michigan, where a strong rivalry with the Buckeyes exists. “When he first asked me to be a VP, I thought, ‘Well, hopefully we don’t lose Michigan by like 900 votes, because you’re going to regret it. It’s probably just a thousand angry Wolverine fans who wouldn’t vote for a Buckeye,’” Vance remarked. During an appearance on OutKick’s “The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show,” he expressed confidence that Michigan voters would overlook their rivalry with Ohio State and prioritize the nation’s interests. “I believe that most Michiganders will be able to set aside sports rivalries and focus on what’s best for the country, which is what we all agree is paramount,” he stated. Vance also proposed to Trump that they attend the Ohio State versus Michigan game later in the year, saying, “Well, let’s go to the Ohio State-Michigan game, assuming we win, because I bet I can get some pretty sweet…”Providing his perspective on the college football scene for 2024, Vance remarked, “I believe it will play a crucial role in determining the final seeding for the College Football Playoff. It’s possible that both teams could qualify for the playoff this year. Although some may not rank Michigan as highly this season, their strong program always leaves room for surprises. We’ll have to wait and see. I have a positive outlook for the Buckeyes.” Vance, a supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals in professional football, added, “I have a strong sense of optimism regarding the Bengals.”
Recent polling data from North Carolina indicates that Donald Trump and JD Vance hold a slight advantage over the Harris-Walz campaign in this pivotal battleground state, with Trump at 47.6% and Harris at 47.1%, according to information from 538. Political experts have identified North Carolina as a critical state in the forthcoming election. Note: The featured image is a screenshot from the embedded video.
