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Nick Saban insists Third Saturday in October was ‘even bigger than Auburn’ to players
By Ethan Stone
Published:
Nick Saban took a blowtorch to Auburn football Saturday ahead of Alabama’s rivalry matchup against Tennessee.
On College GameDay ahead of Tennessee-Alabama, Saban remarked that Alabama’s rivalry against Tennessee felt bigger to his players than any other game – including the Iron Bowl at the end of the season.
When his fellow GameDay hosts expressed surprise for that notion Saban doubled down, insisting that his players always “got up” for the Third Saturday in October – but they had trouble bringing the same intensity against the Tigers.
Check it out:
Nick Saban says Tennessee game was bigger rivalry game than Auburn
“For our players, this was a bigger rivalry than any other game we played…even bigger than Auburn to our players. It was always difficult for me to get our players up for the Auburn game, it was never difficult… pic.twitter.com/4r2gwgq0Tg
— Trey Wallace (@TreyWallace_) October 19, 2024
Remember, for most of Saban’s tenure Alabama completely owned Tennessee. It wasn’t until Josh Heupel came to town that the Crimson Tide started having a little trouble with the Volunteers. Auburn, however, beat Saban 5 times across his 17 years in Tuscaloosa. From a pure competitive standpoint, it’s hard to see a reason for Saban’s claim other than just pure disdain.
Now, Tennessee fans know that feeling. It’s hardly even a discussion in Knoxville – Alabama is and always will be the Vols’ biggest rival in football.
We’ll continue the rivalry today at 3:30 p.m. ET from Neyland Stadium.
Ethan Stone is a Tennessee graduate and loves all things college football and college basketball. Firm believer in fouling while up 3.
