College football will have its focus centered on Atlanta for the first weekend of the 2017 season, as Nick Saban and Jimbo Fisher will likely face off as head coaches for the first time with Alabama playing Florida State in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff game.
The game will be the first regular-season college game played in Atlanta's brand new stadium for the Falcons. It will also be the first time Alabama and FSU have played -- unless they meet in a bowl or playoff game, of course -- since 2007, a 21-14 Seminoles win in Jacksonville.
The Palm Beach Post first reported the possibility of this game happening last month. On Thursday, the organizers of the Peach Bowl made it official with a press release.
"This is a great opportunity to open the 2017 season against an outstanding Florida State program," Saban said. "Jimbo has done an excellent job there and this will provide a great challenge for our team. Having this game first on the schedule will give our players plenty to look forward to and prepare for in the offseason."
Fisher, of course, spent four seasons on Saban's staff at LSU before Saban took the Miami Dolphins' job. Fisher remained at LSU with Les Miles before moving to Florida State as the coach-in-waiting to replace Bobby Bowden.
