Alabama’s football program has booked yet another trip to Atlanta for the Chick-fil-A Kickoff game.
The Crimson Tide will face Miami in the season-opening event at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in 2021, game officials announced Tuesday.
It will be Alabama’s seventh appearance in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff, which began in 2008.
Alabama is 5-0 in the event, including Saturday's 24-7 victory over Florida State, and is scheduled to return in 2019 for a previously announced game against Duke.
Alabama and Miami haven’t met in football since the Sugar Bowl at the end of the 1992 season.
“It’s truly special when you can create a dream matchup like this featuring two of the biggest brands in college football,” said Gary Stokan, president and CEO of Peach Bowl Inc., which operates the Kickoff event. “The Chick-fil-A Kickoff game has been fortunate enough to attract some of college football’s most decorated programs. This matchup will certainly continue that tradition.”
Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC
Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC
Alabama is “pleased to have the opportunity to open another season in Atlanta” and has “a lot of respect for coach (Mark) Richt and the Miami program,” Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban said in a news release.
The game will mark Miami’s first appearance in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff.
“Both teams have great tradition,” Richt said. “We are looking forward to the battle.”
The exact date of the 2021 game will be finalized later.
There have been previous reports that Louisville and Ole Miss also will meet in a 2021 Chick-fil-A Kickoff game. That matchup hasn't been officially announced.
FUTURE MATCHUPS
These pairings have been announced for future Chick-fil-A Kickoff games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium:
2018: Washington vs. Auburn
2019: Alabama vs. Duke
2020: West Virginia vs. Florida State
2020: Georgia vs. Virginia
2021: Alabama vs. Miami
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