I'd be surprised if he cares two whits about ND football.
His dad apparently despised the local riff-raff and kept Pete away from them.
Before I knew much about him, I'd hear about him "winning in a city in a red state." He has won with a tiny percentage of the voting population showing up to vote, and the locals in general are not thrilled with him. That he thinks he's presidential material at this time is a testament to his unusual arrogance, which we also see with his scolding and feigned piety.