The hype continues to build for this year’s season opener between Alabama and Florida State, and it could very well be No. 1 vs. No. 2 to start off the year.

Long-time FSU head coach Bobby Bowden was in Birmingham for Samford University’s first athletics Hall of Fame class, and of course, he was asked about the season opener. In fact, Bowden said FSU and Alabama are his two favorite teams in college football, but he wouldn’t dare make a prediction.

“I couldn’t do that [make a prediction],” Bowden said. “It would be a guess. My two favorite teams are playing: Alabama and Florida State.”

Bowden admitted that since he left FSU, he’s been to more Alabama games than Florida State. When asked if FSU could play with Alabama, Bowden stated the obvious.

“I think they can play with anybody right now to be honest with you,” Bowden said. “I think he’ll [Jimbo Fisher] have a real good football team. Jimbo coached with Nick Saban for a long time. He knows him like a book. Saban knows him like a book. They’re both from West Virginia. I’ll be shocked if it’s not a great game.”

Fisher is somewhat different than all the other Saban disciples: he’s actually built a college football powerhouse, and Florida State is regularly contending for championships under Fisher. Fisher’s an offensive guy, while Saban is obviously a defensive guy.

Following Alabama’s spring game, Saban gave Fisher an incredible complement. Saban said he was the best offensive coordinator he ever had in college or the NFL.

Still, Fisher is trying to do what no former Saban disciple has ever done, and that’s actually beat him.

“It’s a great way to open the season,” Bowden said. “It’ll be a good football game. We know ‘Bama is going to be good, but I’ll tell you, Florida State is going to be good, too.”

This should be quite the showdown.