Alabama Football Rumors: Crimson Tide Will Play USC in 2016 Cowboy Classic, Michigan State Opted Out? [VIDEO]

Alabama and USC have announced that they will open the 2016 college football season with the Cowboy Classic at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

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The announcement comes after the SEC created a new obligation that starts in 2016. The rule states that SEC teams must schedule a nonconference game against a power-5 conference and Alabama has chosen USC.

Alabama has a few high-profile nonconference games on their future schedules as they play West Virginia in Atlanta this season and Wisconsin in Arlington in 2015. Alabama previously attempted to schedule Michigan State to a home-and-home series but Nick Saban says he couldn't convince the Spartans to play on a neutral field.

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This will be the eighth meeting between USC and Alabama all-time. The Crimson Tide topped the Trojans 24-3 in their last meeting in 1985 and Alabama leads the all-time series 5-2. The teams could have an added storyline as former USC head coach Lane Kiffin is the new Crimson Tide offensive coordinator.

Florida State and Oklahoma State will play in the 2014 edition of the Cowboys Classic.

I wish that I could see like 2004-05 USC vs 2009 Alabama. That would be such a great matchup.

— Kevin Mick (@kevinmick) July 3, 2014

And I'm announcing my attendance. RT @BarrettSallee: Alabama announces it will play USC in the 2016 Cowboys Classic. — Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) July 16, 2014