Miami in Talks with Alabama and LSU About Future Nonconference Kickoff Games

The Miami Hurricanes former mantra—"any team, any place, any time"—might reportedly be put to the test in the next couple years, as Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald is reporting that the school has had preliminary talks about scheduling a season-opening game against either Alabama or LSU.

"UM has been approached about opening the football season against Alabama in 2017 in Atlanta or LSU in 2018 in Arlington, Tx," Jackson wrote. "UM will consider playing in one but not both."

These talks appear to be in the infant stage of development, and a lot could change to throw Miami off Alabama and LSU's trail.

But the game would make sense, in theory, since all three teams have not been shy about scheduling blue-blood nonconference opponents.

Say what you will about the state of TCU and Virginia Tech in 2013—LSU and Alabama had to have thought that those games would be more competitive when they were scheduled. Same goes for the Tide's season-opening matchup against West Virginia in 2014.

And as for Miami, just take a look at some of the marquee programs they have scheduled for the next few seasons:

	Year	Opponent
	2014	at Nebraska
	2015	vs. Nebraska
	2016	at Notre Dame
	2018	at Rutgers
	2019	vs. Rutgers
	2020	at Michigan State
	2021	vs. Michigan State

Scheduling Alabama in 2017 would bridge the current gap and ensure the Hurricanes have at least one power-conference opponent (or Notre Dame) scheduled in each of the next eight seasons.

Scheduling LSU in 2018, however, would be risky in addition to the previous agreement to play Rutgers that season. The Scarlet Knights are down right now, but they are a historically competitive program that should ostensibly benefit from their move to the Big Ten.

Still, this is Miami we are talking about—a program that does not, historically, like to back down from a challenge. 

Which leaves all of us, just like Bryan Fischer of NFL.com, hoping desperately to see one of these games happen:

Amen to that, brother.

Follow Brian Leigh on Twitter: @BLeighDAT