The Alabama Crimson Tide and the USC Trojans will meet in the 2016 Cowboys Classic, both schools have officially announced.
The game will be played on Sept. 3, 2016 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
“We are excited to participate in a game that is such an attractive matchup for the nation’s fans,” said new USC head football coach Steve Sarkisian. “The 2016 Cowboys Classic not only brings together two of college football’s most tradition-laden and successful programs, but teams that in 1970 played a significant role in shaping the history of the game.
“At USC, we have always tried to schedule as many outstanding non-conference opponents as possible because we believe that should be part of the experience our players get when they come here. The Trojans versus the Crimson Tide in Arlington will certainly be such a game.”
Alabama and USC haven’t met in the regular season since a 1978 contest in Birmingham. The Crimson Tide lead the overall series 5-2 and won the last meeting 24-3 in the 1985 Aloha Bowl.
Alabama now has two non-conference games set for the 2016 season, and the USC game satisfies the SEC’s non-conference scheduling mandate. The Tide are also scheduled to host Western Kentucky on Sept. 10.
USC was previously scheduled to host New Mexico on Sept. 3, 2016, but the contest was moved to Sept. 19, 2020 to accommodate the Cowboys Classic game with Alabama.
The Trojans are also scheduled to host Notre Dame on Nov. 24, 2016.
Cowboys Classic Future Games
- Aug. 30, 2014: Florida State vs. Oklahoma State
- Sept. 5, 2015: Alabama vs. Wisconsin
- Sept. 3, 2016: USC vs. Alabama
- Sept. 2, 2017: Michigan vs. Florida
Football Schedules