The Alabama Crimson Tide and the Florida State Seminoles will open the 2017 season in Atlanta, the Palm Beach Post has reported.
The matchup will be the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game and it will be played in the new Atlanta Falcons Stadium that is currently under construction.
According to FSU athletic director Stan Wilcox, the two schools have an agreement in place to play in the game. The contract will be signed at a later date and will be followed by an official announcement.
Alabama and Florida State have met four times on the gridiron. The Crimson Tide lead the series 2-1-1, although Florida State was forced to vacate their 2007 win due to NCAA sanctions.
Alabama has played in three straight season-opening kickoff games and recorded victories in each: 41-14 over Michigan in Arlington in 2012, 35-10 over Virginia Tech in Atlanta in 2013, and 33-23 over West Virginia in 2014, also in Atlanta
The Crimson Tide also have matchups set this season vs. Wisconsin and in 2016 vs. USC, both in Arlington, Texas.
Last year, Florida State announced they are opening the 2016 season at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando against the Ole Miss Rebels.
Alabama-Florida State may be the second of two Chick-fil-A Kickoff Games in 2017. Last summer, multiple sources reported that Georgia Tech and Tennessee are close to signing a contract to play on Monday (Labor Day) that season.
Last month, Georgia Tech athletic director Mike Bobinski told the AJC that the matchup vs. Tennessee was close to being finalized.
“All signs are very good,” Bobinski said. “Like everything, I’ll feel better when I see it and we sign it, but I’ve got no indication other than it’s happening and we’re still good to go.”
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