Alabama to face Duke in 2019 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game

Alabama and Duke will open the 2019 season in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game in Atlanta, the schools announced Monday.

The game is set for Aug. 31, 2019, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The schools have met four times previously and last played in 2010, when Alabama won 62-13.

"This presents Duke Football with a tremendous opportunity to play in a world-class venue against Alabama, which is clearly a gold standard program in college football," Duke athletic director Kevin White said in a statement. "Duke's players, coaches, staff and fans love traveling to the great city of Atlanta, and all have enjoyed many magical moments there, including the memorable 2013 Chick-fil-A Bowl against Texas A&M. We look forward to showcasing Duke University on such a national platform, and under the brightest lights of the 2019 college football season."

There is a history between the two programs, as Wallace Wade won three national championships at Alabama before moving on to Duke, where he coached in two Rose Bowls. There is a statue of Wade outside Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, and Duke's Wallace Wade Stadium bears his name.

Current Duke coach David Cutcliffe graduated from Alabama in 1976.

As for the Tide, this will be their sixth appearance in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game. Alabama is 4-0 in the event and will face Florida State in the 2017 season opener.

"We have had the opportunity to play in this game on multiple occasions and it is like a bowl game in terms of the competitive venue that's created," Alabama coach Nick Saban said in a statement. "David Cutcliffe has done an excellent job at Duke, and they will be a really good challenge for our team."

The ACC will have three different teams open against Alabama over the next three seasons. In addition to Florida State in 2017 in Atlanta, Louisville will open the 2018 season against the Crimson Tide in Orlando, Florida.