Kirk Herbstreit expects Alabama vs. FSU to be biggest opening week game ever

When discussing Alabama’s 2017 season, it’s almost impossible not to mention the Week 1 opponent, Florida State.

Kirk Herbstreit was recently on “The Paul Finebaum Show” to talk about Alabama’s upcoming season when he made a prediction for the preseason rankings.

"I don't think it gets better than having Alabama & Florida State open the season…I'd be shocked if it wasn't #1 vs. #2" @KirkHerbstreit pic.twitter.com/D7khK8LUkK

— Paul Finebaum (@finebaum) April 21, 2017

If the Crimson Tide and Seminoles are No. 1 and No. 2 as Herbstreit expects, that would make the meeting in Atlanta the highest-ranked opening week matchup since preseason polls began in 1950. Earlier this month, Jason Kirk at SB Nation compiled a list of opening-week matchups featuring the preseason No. 1 vs. a top-20 foe:

• 1983: Nebraska vs. No. 4 Penn State
• 1986: Oklahoma vs. No. 4 UCLA
• 1985: Pitt vs. No. 5 North Carolina
• 1953: Notre Dame at No. 6 Oklahoma
• 1957: Oklahoma at No. 8 Pitt
• 1978: Alabama vs. No. 10 Nebraska
• 1984: Auburn vs. No. 10 Miami
• 1998: Ohio State at No. 11 West Virginia
• 1990: Miami at No. 16 BYU
• 1991: Florida State vs. No. 19 BYU
• 2016: Alabama vs. No. 20 USC
• 1950: Notre Dame vs. No. 20 North Carolina
• 1958: Ohio State vs. No. 20 SMU

As Kirk’s research shows, even if Alabama is No. 1 and FSU is No. 3 it would still be the highest-ranked Week 1 matchup. FSU looks like a worthy candidate for a high preseason ranking. Jimbo Fisher’s squad loses RB Dalvin Cook, but much like Alabama, the Seminoles have a way of reloading with top talent, including 2017’s top running back recruit, Cam Akers. The Seminoles are coming off of a 10-3 season and return starting QB Deondre Francois.

Andrew Olson

Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.