Alabama vs. Florida State could be a preview of what’s to come in the College Football Playoff.

We could see some sort of rematch between the two teams later in the post-season, however unlikely that may be for two of the most talented teams in the country. Still, Alabama and Florida State could enter the season ranked No. 1 and No. 2, and we don’t expect the loser to fall very far in the polls either.

It would be the opener that college football deserves, and this year, we finally get to see it. None of Nick Saban’s disciples have beaten him, and Jimbo Fisher will try and make history in that respect. Florida State will also try to become the first team in the Nick Saban-led Alabama era to knock off the Tide in Week 1. Saban is 10-0 in opening week games, and most of them have been blowouts.

College Football News’ Pete Fiutak made an early prediction for the Alabama-FSU game, and here’s how he sees it playing out, with Alabama eventually winning 31-27.

Florida State will come up with a tremendous first half. By the early third quarter, social media will have handed the Heisman to QB Deondre Francois and announce the end of the Saban era at Alabama as we know it, but then the Tide will turn things around.

In two long, crunching scoring drives, the Alabama running game will start to take over, while the defense turns up the intensity with a few key three-and-out. The Crimson Tide will take over late, with Hurts taking off for a brilliant scoring run to finally get the lead back.

But unlike the last time we saw Alabama, the defense will hold in a good enough game to make everyone hoping for a rematch on the same field on January 8th.

Alabama is currently a 5.5 point favorite in Vegas’ eyes, and Atlanta’s new Mercedes-Benz Stadium should be an outstanding venue for this massive showdown.