ARLINGTON, Texas -- Top-ranked Alabama has never lost an opener under Nick Saban. And the Crimson Tides last two national championships, including a season ago, started at the home of the NFLs Dallas Cowboys.Maybe Crimson Tide fans should go ahead and make plans for Tampa in January for the next College Football Playoff title game. Many of them probably already have even before the start of Sabans 10th season.Alabama opens Saturday night at AT&T Stadium against 20th-ranked Southern California, which is facing an SEC team for the first time in 10 years.It is the seventh of Sabans openers to be played in a neutral site against team from another Power Five conference -- the Tide have won all of those first six at least double figures. That includes beating Michigan in 2012 and Wisconsin last September in the stadium where they also won the CFP semifinal in the Cotton Bowl last New Years Eve.Well, Id rather play here in Tuscaloosa, Saban said this week on campus. The issue is getting people to play you in Tuscaloosa that are quality opponents, and then when you do home-and-home. That means next year wed have to play in California. So next year we wouldnt make any money, this year we would. This is a business decision but its also a program decision in the tremendous amount of exposure, when you play a quality opponent like USC.The Tide have won four national titles under Saban. The first was in 2008, when the Trojans won their last Pac-12 title.USC has seven wins in its history against No. 1 teams, but the last was in 1984.What an unbelievable opportunity. You look at the sacrifices this team made, the things its gone through to get here, and you cant help being excited about it, said Clay Helton, who goes into his first game of his first season as the Trojans permanent coach. Thats why you come to SC. If you dont like the challenge, you dont take the job.Some other things to know when Alabama and USC go head-to-head for the first time since 1985:NEW QBS: USCs Max Browne has won the job to replace Cody Kessler but has attempted only 19 passes in nine games. Alabamas starter is a mystery, either junior Cooper Bateman or redshirt freshman Blake Barnett. If Saban has picked a guy, he isnt saying -- just like the past two years when Blake Sims and then Jake Coker claimed the jobs through game performances.KIFFINS OLD TEAM: Tide offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin is plenty familiar with the Trojans, having coached 19 members of the USC team. Hes a former USC head coach and assistant. It wont be about me, just like it wasnt about me when we were at Tennessee, Kiffin said early in preseason camp. Its not about coach when we go to LSU. Its about our players playing really well. All we can do is put our players in the best position to win.NEW BUT FAMILIAR: New Trojans head coach Clay Helton has been on their staff since 2010. There is also a new offensive coordinator (Tee Martin) and new defensive coordinator (Clancy Pendergast), and like Helton, neither are strangers at USC. Martin has been on staff there since 2012, and Pendergast was previously the Trojans defensive coordinator in 2013, before returning to the NFL the past two seasons.PROLIFIC RECEIVERS: If the quarterbacks are unproven, their top targets are pretty obvious. USCs Browne has JuJu Smith-Schuster, who flirted with 1,500 receiving yards and has impressed Saban all the way around. A bigtime guy, the coach said. Kind of a Dez Bryant-type of receiver, and hes certainly going to be a challenge for us to guard. Alabama counters with Calvin Ridley, who emerged as one of the SECs best as a freshman. Ridley is also taking over returning punts.OPENING STREAKS: The Crimson Tides streak of season-opening wins is even longer than Sabans tenure. They have won their last 14 openers overall, which is three fewer than USCs streak of 17 consecutive seasons with a win in the first game.---AP Sports Writers John Zenor and Greg Beacham contributed to this report.---AP college football website: www.collegefootball.ap.org Nike Air Swoopes Sale . Most important, perhaps, it went off without a hitch. Organizers poked a little fun at the now-infamous opening ceremony gaffe that saw only four out of five snowflakes open up into rings, leaving the Olympics logo one ring short. Air Max Zero Sale . With their top three point guards and Kobe Bryant all sidelined by injury, the Lakers signed Marshall out of the D-League on Friday before their home game against Minnesota. https://www.wholesaleshoesforcheap.com/nike-air-span-sale/ . "Four now," Carl Gunnarsson told the Leaf Report proudly following a 5-2 victory over New York on Tuesday night, the clubs fifth straight at home. Air Max 2003 Sale . Darren Helm scored on Detroits sixth attempt in the shootout and then Jonas Gustavsson stopped Andrew Shaws shot, lifting the Detroit Red Wings to a 5-4 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday night. Air Jordan 19 Sale . Takahashi, who had a 10-point lead after the short program, received 268.31 points after the free skate to finish 15 points ahead of second-place Nobunari Oda. Three members of the 2015 AP All-Pro team -- Cleveland tackle Joe Thomas, Baltimore guard Marshal Yanda and Seattle kick returner Tyler Lockett -- are among the 32 finalists for the NFLs Art Rooney Award recognizing sportsmanship.The winner of the award -- established in 2014 in honor of the late founding owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers, a Pro Football Hall of Famer -- is determined by a vote of current NFL players. A panel of former players will select eight finalists, four from each conference. Panel members are Hall of Famer Curtis Martin, Warrick Dunn, Karl Mecklenburg and Leonard Wheeler.The 2016 winner will be announced during the NFL Honors show on Feb. 4, 2017, the night before the Super Bowl. The Associated Press individual awards, including MVP and Coach of the Year, also are announced during NFL Honors.Last years winner was safety Charles Woodson of the Raiders. Receiver Larry Fitzgerald of the Cardinals was the inaugural winner of the award in 2014.Two second-team All-Pros from 2015, Carolina tight end Greg Olsen and Atlanta fullback?Patrick DiMarco, also have been nominated. The other noominees:Arizona Cardinals -- DT?Calais CampbellBuffalo Bills -- DT Kyle WilliamsChicago Bears?-- LB Sam AchoCincinnati Bengals -- WR A.dddddddddddd. GreenDallas Cowboys -- CB Brandon CarrDenver Broncos -- LB DeMarcus WareDetroit Lions?-- S Glover QuinGreen Bay Packers?-- LB Julius PeppersHouston Texans?-- LB Brian CushingIndianapolis Colts -- RB Frank GoreJacksonville Jaguars -- LB Paul PoslusznyKansas City Chiefs -- LB Derrick JohnsonLos Angeles Rams -- DE Robert QuinnMiami Dolphins -- T Branden AlbertMinnesota Vikings?-- CB Terence NewmanNew England Patriots?-- S Devin McCourtyNew Orleans Saints -- T Zach StriefNew York Giants?-- WR Victor CruzNew York Jets?-- WR Brandon MarshallOakland Raiders -- QB Derek CarrPhiladelphia Eagles?-- RB Darren SprolesPittsburgh Steelers -- LB Arthur MoatsSan Diego Chargers -- QB Philip RiversSan Francisco 49ers?-- T Joe StaleyTampa Bay Buccaneers?-- DT Gerald McCoyTennessee Titans -- QB Marcus MariotaWashington Redskins -- QB Kirk Cousins ' ' '
