There are 12 days left until college football's first full week kicks off on Thursday, Sept. 1. In today's countdown, we examine the number 12 -- Alabama's 12 straight wins and the team that will be looking to snap that streak on Saturday, Sept. 3 -- Southern Cal.
USC used to be where the Crimson Tide are now. A 12-game winning streak? That's nothing compared to what the Trojans did in the mid-2000s under Pete Carroll with a nearly three-year winning streak of 34 straight.
The two college football powers will meet in Arlington, Texas at AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys. The Tide won twice there last season, opening with a victory over Wisconsin and defeating Michigan State in the College Football Playoff semifinals.
Alabama owns a 5-2 advantage in the series. The teams haven't met since the 1985 Aloha Bowl (Bama won 24-3). In their most recent home-and-home series played during the late 1970s, each won on the road.
USC comes off an 8-6 finish, losing in the Pac-12 title game and in the Holiday Bowl, but is obviously enthused to take on the Tide.
The USC Bookstore decided it was a good idea to troll Alabama. https://t.co/NqabqBrgTJ pic.twitter.com/EwZW8DAteI
— Kyle Bonagura (@BonaguraESPN) August 18, 2016
Alabama's current winning streak started a third of the way into last season following a loss to Ole Miss. The Crimson Tide then reeled off 12 in a row, winning the Southeastern Conference and their fourth national title under Nick Saban with a 45-40 win over previously-undefeated Clemson in the CFP National Championship game.
Alabama is 9-0 in season opening games under Saban (including 2007 vacated win).
In case you missed any part of our countdown:
13 days: Lucky number 13 for a trio of teams
14 days: 14 years of Boise State excellence
15 days: Kansas has lost 15 straight games, the longest active FBS streak.
16 days: Peyton Manning wore No. 16 for Tennessee.
17 days: TCU QBs completed 17 of 17 passes in a game in 2012, an FBS record.
18 days: Ohio State has won an FBS-best 18 consecutive road games.
19 days: There are 19 head coaches at their alma mater this season.
20 days: It has been 20 years since Florida won its first national championship.
21 days: Oklahoma led the nation in average scoring margin (21.5) last season.
22 days: Ohio State has been in the top 10 of the AP poll for 22 straight weeks.
23 days: Virginia Tech has played in an FBS-best 23 straight bowl games.
24 days: In the first game of the historic rivalry, Navy beat Army 24-0.
25 days: Desmond Howard won the Heisman 25 years ago.
26 days: Arkansas State led the nation with 26 interceptions in 2015.
27 days: Clemson's Greg Huegel led the nation with 27 field goals in 2015.
28 days: Adrian Peterson wore No. 28 for Oklahoma.
29 days: Alabama's Bryant-Denny Stadium opened in 1929.
30 days: Miami's Vinny Testaverde won the Heisman 30 years ago.