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On Tuesday, Walt Disney decided to bless college football fans with some summer hope just 109 days from the traditional Labor Day weekend starting date.
We now have game times for some of the biggest matchups of the opening weekend of college football.
ESPN just dropped the national primetime TV schedule for opening weekend.
— SEC Mike (@MichaelWBratton) May 18, 2021
Alabama vs. Miami, Georgia vs. Clemson, Ole Miss vs. Louisville included: pic.twitter.com/m291qcGsSm
The defending champion and No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide reloads against the most experienced quarterback in college football with D’Eriq King and the No. 25 Miami Hurricanes. This game will be from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, and the way the Tide travels to the 404 you can expect a sellout.
That will be followed by a battle in Bank of America Stadium with the No. 4 Georgia Bulldogs taking on the DJ Uiagalelei and the No. 1 Clemson Tigers in the nightcap from Charlotte. The winner of this game will likely be able to cancel out any regular season loss and still make the playoff, while the loser might have to run closer to clean to advance. It’s basically a battle for a get out of jail card in case either team slips up in conference competition.
One of the great series of the 90’s was Bobby Bowden’s Florida State Seminoles facing the Notre Dame Fighting Irish of Lou Holtz, and they’ll renew acquaintances on Labor Day Sunday at 7:30 p.m. The Seminoles opening against a marquee opponent on either Sunday or Monday night has become somewhat of a tradition, and Tallahassee will be turned up for what should be a terrific game.
And the Monday nighter should be a good one as well, with the rebuilding Louisville Cardinals getting No. 18 Ole Miss with NFL prosect Matt Corral and Lane Kiffin in The Grove. Kiffin has recruited at a high level since returning to the SEC, and his team last year showed they could score with anyone in college football’s toughest division of the SEC West. UL’s Malik Cunningham is no slouch either, and should have more talent to work with in 2021.