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Is FSU Football vs. Alabama The Best Opener in College Football History?

By Jason Parker

Sep 17, 2016; Louisville, KY, USA; The Florida State Seminoles take the field before facing off against the Louisville Cardinals at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium. Louisville defeated Florida State 63-20. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2016; Louisville, KY, USA; The Florida State Seminoles take the field before facing off against the Louisville Cardinals at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium. Louisville defeated Florida State 63-20. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports /
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FSU football is set for a much anticipated opener this September against Alabama – a game that may be the best Week One showdown of all time.

We’re still just over four months from the first Saturday of the 2017 college football season and it seems that fans of FSU football can not stop talking about what will take place on September 2nd in Atlanta – a showdown with the Alabama Crimson Tide that could arguably be the best opening game in the history of college football.

I know there are not many Seminoles fans who need convincing of this fact, but let’s take a look at the numbers to show why there really is no argument:

  • Over the last 25 seasons (1992-2006) , FSU football and Alabama have combined to play for the national title nearly half of those times (12) with a combined eight championship game wins.
  • Since 2010, Alabama has the highest winning percentage of any FBS team (.887) while Florida State is in third place with a .821 winning percentage, going 78-17 since Jimbo Fisher took over at that season.
  • Over the past four years, the programs have combined to be some of the best when it comes to recruiting – each year, both teams finished in the top six of 247 Sports rankings while signing a combined 32 five star players over that time. That number includes six of the top 13 players in the 2017 class (three for each school).

The general consensus is that, baring major injuries or suspensions that could hamper either team’s potential for the 2017 season, FSU football and Alabama will enter the meeting in Atlanta as the top two ranked teams in the country. Why is that important?

Florida State Seminoles Football
Florida State Seminoles Football /

Florida State Seminoles Football

Because in the previous 147 seasons of major college football, the top two ranked teams have NEVER met to open the season. Only three times has the top ranked team ever played someone ranked in the top five to open the year: 1983 Nebraska (vs. No. 4 Penn State), 1985 Pittsburgh (vs. No. 5 North Carolina) and 1986 Oklahoma (vs. No. 4 UCLA).

It’s a game that could feature as many as four Heisman contenders (Jalen Hurts and Calvin Ridley for Alabama, Deondre Francois and Derwin James for FSU) in front of a sellout crowd in Atlanta’s new stadium -if it’s done in time. It’s also a game that could be a preview of the national championship game this season, which is scheduled for the same stadium just over four months later.

The storyline of Jimbo Fisher against Nick Saban is there, as the former assistant for the evil genius will look to become the first Saban disciple to beat their former boss on the field. FSU will also be looking to even their all time series with the Crimson Tide, which they currently trail 1-2-1 after getting their first win a decade ago during Saban’s first season.

There is no doubt that over the next four months, fans of both FSU football and Alabama are going to talk at length about this game – and at points, probably get sick of hearing about it. However, when toe meets leather on September 2nd inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium (maybe), fans will be witnessing something that could be historical.

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