JD Vance, the Ohio senator and vice-presidential candidate, received an enthusiastic reception from college football fans during a visit to Greenville, North Carolina, this past 2024 football season. The day began with Vance and his wife, Usha, making a stop at a popular local bar where they mingled with excited residents eager to meet the politician. Later, the couple made their way to Dowdy-Ficklin Stadium at East Carolina University to attend a game that saw passionate fans cheering for Trump’s running mate.
As Vance arrived at the stadium, a large crowd greeted him with chants of “USA” as he and his security detail made their way into the venue. Before the game kicked off between the East Carolina Pirates and the Appalachian State Mountaineers, Vance and Usha took their place on the field for the national anthem. Although Vance is loyal to Ohio State, his alma mater, he made it clear that he didn’t have any particular allegiance to the North Carolina teams.
Vance had jokingly remarked to former President Donald Trump that his ties to Ohio State might be an issue in Michigan, a state where the rivalry between Ohio State and the University of Michigan runs deep. In a lighthearted moment, Vance said, “I thought, ‘Well, hopefully we don’t lose Michigan by like 900 votes because of this rivalry.’” However, on OutKick’s “The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show,” Vance expressed confidence that Michigan voters would prioritize national interests over sports rivalries.
When discussing the college football landscape, Vance predicted that both Ohio State and Michigan could make it to the College Football Playoff this season. He remarked, “I believe both teams are strong contenders, and while some might not rank Michigan as highly, we all know their program has a way of surprising people.” As a Bengals fan, he also shared his optimism about the Cincinnati Bengals’ prospects.
Recent polling suggests that North Carolina, a key battleground state, is leaning slightly in favor of Trump and Vance over their Harris-Walz opponents, with Trump securing 47.6% support compared to Harris’s 47.1%, according to 538 data. Political analysts agree that North Carolina will be a crucial state in the upcoming election.
