Fansided’s Michael Collins sat down with Gary Stokan, CEO Peach Bowl, Inc. to discuss the big things in store for the college football Chic-fil-A kickoff games.
This season marks the 50th season of the Chic-fil-A Peach Bowl. The game has brought college football fans so much fun that it had to be expanded from a season finale to a season opener.
The bowl game and the two Chic-fil-A kickoff games this year will generate upwards of $100 Million of economic impact to the city of Atlanta. It’s a big game, and that might be an understatement.
For the third time, the Chic-fil-A Kickoff Game will host a double-header. On Saturday night No. 1 Alabama takes on No. 3 Florida State. The second game, which will take place on Monday, features No. 25 Tennessee against Georgia Tech.
The Kickoff Game has featured some fantastic matchups over the years, but none more epic than this season’s opener. Stokan is well aware of the magnitude of this contest. The Peach Bowl Inc. CEO said they’ve even come up with an acronym for the game.
"“We’re calling this the GOAT game, the Greatest Opener of All-Time. Research shows this will be the first time in the 149 year history of college football. These will be the two highest teams playing in an opening weekend against each other. You’ve got two of the most winningest coaches over the last seven years. Jimbo Fisher and Florida State have won all seven of his opening games. Nick Saban has won 16 straight opening games. Something’s got to give there.”"
This might not be the only time we see these two teams take the field in Atlanta this season. Stokan said that there’s a good chance that both schools “could find themselves back in Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Jan. 9 playing in the College Football Playoff National Championship”.
If each wins their respective conference title as expected, college football fans might be treated to a second matchup of these two heavyweights. Yes, please.
If Florida State were to pull off the upset it would be just the second time an ACC team has beaten and SEC team at the Chic-fil-A Kickoff Game. The other occurrence came in 2012 when Clemson beat Auburn.