Alabama-USC.

USC-Alabama.

That’s the matchup that will kick off the 2016 college football season in Dallas as the Crimson Tide will take on the Men of Troy at AT&T Stadium.

When the news broke early Wednesday on the matchup, it didn’t take long for our state to learn of the opening game.

When I first read about it, I thought it was Alabama facing the University of South Carolina.

“Surely, not,” I said.

And it wasn’t true.

One of the first thoughts I had after I realized that Alabama would be facing USC is that maybe new Crimson Tide offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin had something to do with this.

After all, Kiffin was the head coach at USC at one time.

This will mark the first regular season matchup between the two teams since 1978. Since 1938, the two teams have met seven times with three of them in bowl games, according to reports.

As far as playing in a neutral setting, this game will be Alabama’s fifth consecutive neutral-site showdown with a Power 5 non conference opponent, according to AL.com.

In 2015, Alabama opens in Dallas against Wisconsin.

The 2016 game is slated for Sept. 3, the same day as the Notre Dame-Texas game.

Alabama has a distinct advantage in neutral site games as the Crimson Tide are 4-1 as of yet.

Blake Bell, The Star-News’ news editor, said that we could see 2015 Alabama commit Blake Barnett and 2014 USC commit Ricky Town.

Both quarterbacks are from California and it should be interesting, if they both start the game, to watch both work their magic on the gridiron.

Barnett is said to be a mobile quarterback with a great arm. Town is known for staying in the pocket and is ranked No. 2 in that category in passing.

Mobile versus staying put — another interesting element between these two.

All in all, it should be a good game between the two.

With the 2014 season right around the corner and all peoples’ eyes set on that first game of the season, this just makes me smile even more knowing the matchup that lies ahead two years from now.