Alabama will face Louisville in the Orlando Kickoff game in 2018, the two schools confirmed Thursday.
No date was announced for the nonconference matchup that will be played in the Citrus Bowl.
“The 2018 game will mark the seventh consecutive neutral-site season opener for the Crimson Tide,” Alabama athletic Bill Battle said in a statement. “Neutral-site games have been good for Alabama in national exposure as well as financially under Coach (Nick) Saban’s leadership.”
“Our first regular-season neutral-site game in Orlando will provide another great matchup of national interest against an excellent Louisville program, but is also a new venue that I believe our fans will enjoy.”
Alabama and Louisville have met three times but not since 1991. The Crimson Tide have won two of the three games.
“Kicking off the 2018 season with a great opponent like Alabama is a tremendous way to start the season,” Louisville athletic director Tom Jurich said. “We continually want to play highly respected opponents each year, and adding a traditional power like Alabama in the opener will certainly be an outstanding challenge.
“We have a vision to be the best we can be, and to do that, we have to play the best. We are also thrilled to be headed back to a destination city like Orlando. I know our fan base will respond for this tremendous matchup.”
The first Orlando Kickoff game is scheduled for next year between Florida State and Ole Miss. The opponents for 2017 have not been announced.
Alabama’s 2015 season begins with a neutral-site matchup against Wisconsin on Sept. 5 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.