Well before Saturday's long-awaited season opener, No. 1 Alabama and No. 3 Florida State crossed paths on another national stage: Recruiting.
Perennials powers like the Crimson Tide and Seminoles are always gunning for the best talent in the nation. Sometimes, they'll go against each other for the same players.
Alabama has won a few battles, including defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick and receivers Calvin Ridley and Henry Ruggs. So has Florida State, hauling in recruits like Keith Gavin, Cam Akers and Jacques Patrick.
But what is it like to be a blue-chip prospect forced to make a choice? It either makes for a really exciting story, or in Demarcus Christmas' case, just a single moment in time.
"Yes, I did get recruited by [Alabama]. It was great, but ..." Christmas said with a smile after Thursday's practice. "My recruitment. I had a lot of offers. I really didn't take it, like, I made my choice my junior year and stuck with it. I didn't really pay attention to nothing else when I committed here."
OK. Fair enough.
Christmas, who was a four-star prospect according to Rivals, was the nation's No. 6 defensive tackle in 2014. He committed to the Seminoles in October 2012 and didn't have the dramatized recruitment like one would expect.
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Surely, it must have been different for sophomore defensive end Brian Burns?
A four-star prospect, he chose FSU on National Signing Day. Prior to Signing Day, the interest in Burns amplified over the final three weeks of January. It would make sense that Burns was caught in a tug-of-war between Seminoles coach Jimbo Fisher and Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban.
"They recruited me pretty hard," Burns said. "It came down to [Alabama being in] my Top 5, and that's about."
Really? There's nothing else?
"They spoke to me," Burns said. "But it was nothing too crazy."
Patrick's experience was a little more dramatic as he was caught in the middle.
The Orlando native said Thursday his final two schools were Alabama and FSU. Rated by Rivals as a five-star prospect, he was the No. 3 running back in the nation and the No. 18 prospect overall in 2015.
At the time, Lane Kiffin was Alabama's offensive coordinator. Patrick recalled meeting with Kiffin and Saban when they were in Central Florida for the Orlando Touchdown Club's award ceremony.
Patrick, who was named the area's Offensive Player of the Year, was with his high school coach when he had a meeting with the Crimson Tide.
"They asked me if I wanted to come on an official visit. I said, 'I'd think about it,' and I ended up not going because I ended up enrolling early," Patrick said. "It was what it was. I appreciate the opportunity, but I'm glad where I'm at."
FSU, with Patrick in tow, would sign the No. 3 class in the nation in 2015. Alabama was second, with Southern Cal recruiting what Rivals deemed as the best class for that cycle.
The 6-foot-3 and 231-pound Patrick spent his first two collegiate seasons developing behind star tailback Dalvin Cook. With Cook in the NFL, Patrick is the team's top back heading into the season opener against the Crimson Tide.
"At the end of the day, I knew I wanted to be here at Florida State," Patrick said. "Nothing against them -- I know they have a great program -- but I feel like my future could have been better here and I still have no regrets for it."
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