It’s long been said that the annual showdown on the gridiron between the Tennessee Vols and the Alabama Crimson Tide is one of the greatest rivalries in all of college football, particularly among those that cross state lines.
However, there are some snarky internet trolls who argue it’s not that great because it’s not even Alabama’s biggest rivalry, instead pointing to the annual Iron Bowl between Alabama and Auburn.
It appears no one told Nick Saban that was the case when he was the head coach of the Crimson Tide. Saban said on Saturday during College Gameday that, in fact, he considered Tennessee to be Alabama’s biggest rival.
“For our players, this was a bigger rivalry than any other game that we played,” Saban said (to the surprise of Pat McAfee). “I’m talking about rivalry games. Even bigger than Auburn to our players. It was difficult for me to get our players up for the Auburn game. It was never difficult for the Tennessee game.”
That’s quite the statement from Saban, particularly given the religious status of the annual intrastate clash between Auburn and Alabama.