ATLANTA – Florida State and West Virginia will open the 2020 football season in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff game in Atlanta, the schools announced Thursday.
The Seminoles are slated to open next season against Alabama in Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which is under construction.
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"Our fans have been talking about next (season's) Chick-fil-A Kickoff game against Alabama since the day it was announced, and I think we will see similar enthusiasm for an opener against the Mountaineers," Florida State athletic director Stan Wilcox said in a statement.
West Virginia lost to Alabama in the 2014 season opener in Atlanta.
"Our players and coaches like playing in neutral-site games in pro venues," West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen said in a statement. "When we played in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff game in 2014, our players, coaches and fans really enjoyed playing against Alabama in a great environment, and we expect the same in this game."
Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher grew up in West Virginia rooting for the Mountaineers, who were then coached by Bobby Bowden. Fisher succeeded Bowden in 2010 after 34 seasons at Florida State.
Bowden's final game was a 33-21 victory against his former team in the Gator Bowl. The Seminoles also beat West Virginia in two other Gator Bowl games to conclude the 2004 and 1982 seasons.
The game will be played on Sept. 5, 2020.
West Virginia's appearance will be the first by a Big 12 Conference school since the game began in 2008.
The 10th-ranked Seminoles (10-3) upset No. 6 Michigan (10-3) in a 33-32 win in the Orange Bowl last week. The 14th-ranked Mountaineers (10-3) lost to Miami (9-4) in the Russell Athletic Bowl.