USC Head Coah Clay Helton Excited for Season Opener Against Alabama [VIDEO]

Southern Cal's Clay Helton might be preparing for his first opportunity as head coach, but he brings quite a bit of experience with him into the new season. After being hired as the quarterbacks coach by Lane Kiffin in 2010, Helton has spent six years on the sidelines in Los Angeles, which includes two separate stints as an interim head coach.

Even with all of that seasoning at USC, Helton won't have any time to get acclimated in his new role. The Trojans will open their 2016 schedule with a neutral-site meeting with the defending national champion Alabama Crimson Tide.

"I can't tell you how excited that we are to have the opportunity to play a defending national champion, to play one of the top head coaches in the history of this game in Nick Saban," Helton said during Pac-12 Media Days.

He also thinks that excitement has provided extra motivation to his team this offseason.

"I think it's giving us a little bit of a kickstart, you know in this summer. It really has made our football team have a little chip on their shoulder. I can say I've been around them for six years, and this summer feels a little bit different. And I'm so proud of the work that these guys are putting in."

Two of the best programs in college football will meet for the first time in 31 years when they square off inside AT&T Stadium on September 3. That game will kickoff at 7PM and be televised nationally on ABC.