Nick Saban says Tennessee a bigger rival to Alabama than Auburn on College GameDay

Answering the question of which team is Alabama's biggest rival between Auburn and Tennessee is a divisive topic among Crimson Tide fans. It's typically a generational gap. The majority of Alabama fans 35 and above would probably tell you it's Tennessee; those younger than that would have trouble agreeing with that and would lean Auburn.

The main reason for younger Alabama fans not seeing the Third Saturday in October rivalry in the same light as the Iron Bowl is because of one man: Nick Saban. Saban dominated the Volunteers during his time in Tuscaloosa, winning 16 of 17 meetings including a 15 game winning streak from 2007-2021.

Interestingly enough, it was Saban who may have provided the definitive answer on which school is Alabama's biggest rival.

Saban's comments are interesting because the players who came through Auburn at the time were the younger generation who you would think looked at the Iron Bowl as the biggest rivalry game. Especially because Saban came to the Crimson Tide while Alabama was in the midst of a five game losing streak to the Tigers, a streak that grew to six after Saban's first season in 2007.

And Alabama had its longest run of dominance in the Tennessee series during the Saban era, which made the Third Saturday in October lose some of its national relevance.

But you can't tell the history of the SEC without Alabama and Tennessee. It's one of the oldest rivalries in the south, and it has intensified once again over the last couple of seasons after the Vols finally broke through with a win in 2022 after a decade and a half of losing.

I'm sure Saban's comments will rile up the fanbase down on the Plains, but it's far from an uncommon thought among Alabama fans.