The University of Alabama, which will open its next two football seasons in the Cowboys Classic near Dallas, is heading back to Atlanta in 2017 for an opening date with Florida State University.
The potential of an Alabama-FSU pairing was reported last month by the Palm Beach Post, but Chick-fil-A Kickoff Classic officials confirmed the matchup Thursday through a release. The Crimson Tide and Seminoles will play Sept. 2 in the new home of the Atlanta Falcons, with that stadium scheduled for completion in 2017 at a cost of more than $1.5 billion.
“These teams represent the best in our sport the best players, the best coaches and the best fans,” said Gary Stokan, the president and CEO of Peach Bowl, Inc. “It’s going to be a memorable start to the season, and there is no better place to host this than in Atlanta, the capital of college football.”
Alabama is opening this season against Wisconsin and has a 2016 opening date with Southern Cal.
The Chick-fil-A Kickoff Classic has averaged more than 66,000 fans, which would have topped the attendance of 30 bowl games last season. The payout for each team averages $4.3 million, surpassing the payouts of 21 bowl games from a year ago.