Nick Saban Reveals Alabama's True Rival That Isn't Auburn

Week 8 of the college football season is upon us, and we have numerous huge matchups ahead. The No. 7 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide arguably have the biggest contest of the day, as they are set to take on the No. 11 Tennessee Volunteers.

With the No. Crimson Tide has been struggling in their last two games, and it's unclear whether or not they can pull off a win over the Volunteers. This matchup very well could be the defining moment of the season for Alabama.

However, on Saturday morning, on the "College GameDay" set, the crew was discussing the massive SEC game. Former head coach Nick Saban shared some inside information about the Crimson Tide, revealing which program Alabama truly views as its biggest rival.

Surprisingly enough, it's not the Auburn Tigers. According to the 72-year-old former head coach, the Crimson Tide actually view Tennessee as their biggest rival in college football.

The rivalry between Alabama and Auburn is typically viewed as one of the biggest rivalries in sports. However, that rivalry might be more important between the opposing fan bases. As Saban reveals, it appears the players on his teams saw the Tennessee Volunteers as their biggest rival instead.

It's always interesting to hear some inside information like that. Some rivalries can be surprising. However, it's not like Alabama and Tennessee don't have a history together.

The Crimson Tide and Volunteers have played against each other 106 times over the years, with Saturday's matchup being the 107th contest between the two. Alabama has mainly dominated the rivalry, holding a 59-39-7 winning record over Tennessee.

In their last matchup in 2023, the Crimson Tide pulled off a 34-20 win over the Volunteers. But this is a different Tennessee team. This year, they're led by freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who has been playing extremely well to begin his college career.

Alabama hopes to earn its sixth win of the season. A victory over Tennessee would be huge for the Crimson Tide as it could quiet the critics who have grown louder ever since the loss to Vanderbilt.

Related: Nick Saban Sends Stern Message to Alabama, Kalen DeBoer After Vanderbilt Loss