Arlington, Texas – AT&T Stadium.
This stadium, with a capacity of 80,000, serves as the home of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys and hosts a variety of NCAA bowl games and championship events.
Today, the 2016-2017 NCAA season will officially begin here.
With the NFL season set to start next Thursday, the NCAA, with its earlier opening games, draws national attention.
Since 2009, AT&T Stadium has been the host of the NCAA season opener, famously dubbed the "Cowboys Classic." Over the years, it has grown into a significant event that marks the beginning of the football season, almost like a national celebration.
Each year, AT&T Stadium and the NCAA work together to select a matchup for the season's opening game. While it's not always the strongest teams facing off, the goal is to ensure a game that guarantees viewership and stirs up excitement.
Last year, the Alabama Crimson Tide faced off against the Wisconsin Badgers, with the Crimson Tide securing a 35-17 victory, setting the tone for a dominant season.
This year, Alabama returns to the Cowboys Classic, set to take on the USC Trojans, a traditional powerhouse from the Pac-12 conference.
Though there's no deep-rooted rivalry between the two programs, both Alabama and USC boast rich football traditions and vast fan bases—ensuring massive viewership.
And today, on Saturday, September 3rd, the Cowboys Classic is set to unfold, with tens of thousands of fans from California and Alabama descending on Texas to witness the spectacle. Ticket sales have been through the roof.
According to official box office numbers, this will be the second time in the Cowboys Classic's history that ticket sales have surpassed 80,000.
The stadium, which seats 80,000, has an option to expand capacity by dismantling parts of the stands and adding temporary seating, bringing the total possible attendance to 90,000—and AT&T Stadium has already begun this process. This means today's crowd could reach close to that staggering number.
The stadium was awash in waves of vibrant red—both teams shared the color.
Alabama's Crimson Tide wore bright crimson jerseys, while USC's Trojans donned their own deep red. The main difference? Alabama's white pants versus USC's golden ones.
But fans, of course, didn't wear pants to the game.
So, as far as the eye could see, there was an ocean of red engulfing AT&T Stadium, overwhelming the Dallas Cowboys' loyalists who were used to their team's iconic blue jerseys.
Cowboys fans were undoubtedly feeling queasy—since when do red and blue mix?
Beyond the fans, the media had arrived in droves, with ABC securing the rights to broadcast the game live, kicking off football season with all the pomp and circumstance of a Super Bowl.
There was a palpable tension mixed with anticipation.
And then, the four team buses slowly pulled up to the stadium entrance.
Journalists, armed with cameras and microphones, scrambled to capture the moment. ABC's on-site reporters rushed toward the buses, ready to interview players as they stepped off and broadcast the excitement live.
When people talk about Alabama's Crimson Tide, there's no doubt they're discussing one of the NCAA's top-tier championship contenders. Every move the team makes draws attention, and this season, all eyes were on how Nick Saban's squad would fare without Derrick Henry, who had transitioned to the pros. Would Alabama still have the firepower to contend for another national title?
Coming into the season, Alabama was ranked as the NCAA's No. 1 seed. However, these rankings would shift as the season progressed. The real question was whether Alabama could maintain this top spot all the way through.
Four months ago, when the spring training camp ended, Alabama faced off against Clemson in a heated scrimmage. The Crimson Tide struggled in the first half, being shut out, which raised concerns about the team's potential for the new season. Yet, in the second half, one player had emerged: No. 23, who had turned the game on its head and led Alabama to victory.
In that game, No. 23 dominated. He had torched Clemson's defense, racking up three long runs of over 20 yards, breaking through the Tigers' line like a battering ram.
Some dismissed it as just a scrimmage, saying it was 2016—who takes preseason games seriously anymore?
Others criticized Clemson's defense as a joke. The fact that Alabama leaned so heavily on a single player to rack up yards only highlighted their lack of depth and offensive creativity.
But no one could deny that No. 23 had seemingly sprung out of nowhere, taking the field by storm. Alabama had always been known for its strong ground game and its ability to develop star running backs. Now, with a defense that looked as solid as ever, there was no doubt that the Crimson Tide were still serious contenders for the championship.
However, the biggest mystery remained: No. 23.
Information about him was scarce. His stats were available, but little else. Even his height and weight seemed to be randomly scattered across various websites. As for photos? None. Alabama had registered him late, and no photo had been submitted to the NCAA, leaving the player's face a mystery.
In this digital age, where every detail of an athlete's life is usually broadcast across social media, No. 23 had somehow maintained a rare air of mystique, adding to his legend.
Some were excited by the mystery. Others were skeptical.
Could this unknown player truly fill the shoes of Derrick Henry and lead Alabama's offense to another title run?
Questions. Curiosity. Doubt. Intrigue.
All of these swirling emotions had made this year's Cowboys Classic one of the most anticipated games in recent memory. Even the NFL had joined in the buzz.
No matter how No. 23 performed today, the NCAA had already won. Ticket sales were through the roof, and the buzz surrounding the game had made it a marketing success.
For the first time in the Cowboys Classic's eight-year history, the stadium's expanded seating had been activated, and scalpers outside were haggling with fans desperate for a last-minute ticket.
Inside the stadium, all eyes were on the team buses that had just pulled up.
And everyone was waiting for one player.
No. 23.
As the bus doors swung open, the air seemed to still in anticipation.
And then, he stepped out.
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