It’s a loaded Week 1 this season headlined by Alabama vs. Florida State. Dabo Swinney is uniquely familiar with both teams, facing FSU every year as a division rival and taking on Alabama the past two seasons in the national championship game.

Swinney is an Alabama alumnus, but when the Crimson Tide take on the Seminoles, he’s pulling for his conference over his alma mater. The Clemson coach was asked to pick a side at ACC Media Days in Charlotte.

Swinney, a Birmingham native, played at Alabama from 1990-92 and become a Crimson Tide graduate assistant in 1993. He stayed on the UA staff until 2000 as a tight ends and wide receivers coach before he being fired as part of Mike DuBose’s staff. He returned to coaching in 2003, joining Clemson’s staff as wide receivers coach and later becoming the interim head coach in 2008 and full-time head coach the following season.

The SEC is widely known for its conference loyalty, which many associate with the iconic S-E-C- chant, but it appears the ACC sticks together, too.