AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas will be rocking as there has been a confirmation between the University of Alabama and University of Southern California to rematch in the AdvoCare Classic. News was released on Wednesday and Crimson Tide athletic director, Greg Byrne, was first to express his excitement for the Labor Day weekend matchup set for Sat, Sept. 5, 2020.
“This is another fantastic season-opening matchup that will give our team and our fans a bowl-like experience coming out of the gates,” Byrne said in a press release. “We’ve played in some incredible games at AT&T Stadium over the last few years, and we look forward to what will surely be another one in the 2020 AdvoCare Classic.”
During the 1970s, Alabama and USC faced-off multiple times under coaches Paul “Bear” Bryant and John McKay but the most recent meeting between the two legendary programs was in 2016.
Behind a solid performance from Jalen Hurts and the Tide’s defense, it earned a 52-6 dominating victory over Clay Helton’s Trojans. Nick Saban, who has coached his team to wins at AT&T Stadium three times since 2012, is headed back to the venue for another AdvoCare Classic.
“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to open another season at the AdvoCare Classic in 2020,” Alabama head coach Nick Saban said. “Our team and our fans have always enjoyed playing in North Texas and AT&T Stadium is a fantastic competitive environment. This event has always been a first class with the intensity of a bowl game. We are also pleased to have the chance to once again face USC, and we look forward to a great game.”
Since 2008, Saban has had the Crimson Tide open its season against eight Power Five conference schools – Clemson, Virginia Tech (twice), Michigan, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Southern California and Florida State – and the trend continues this fall with Louisville (Orlando), Duke (Atlanta) in 2019, USC (Arlington) in 2020 and Miami (Atlanta) in 2021.
Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
