Nick Saban makes stunning admission on Alabama's view of Tennessee, Auburn football rivalries

Nick Saban either got lost in the hype on Alabama-Tennessee gameday or revealed that the Iron Bowl is not the all-important rivalry Auburn football fans believe it is; at least from the Crimson Tide's perspective.

During the October 19 edition of College GameDay from Austin, Texas, Saban claimed that he never had to get his players fired up for the Third Saturday in October. He said he did have issues getting them fired up for the Iron Bowl, though.

“For our players, this was a bigger rivalry than any other game we played…even bigger than Auburn to our players," Saban prefaced before saying, "It was always difficult for me to get our players up for the Auburn game, it was never difficult for Tennessee.”

From a narrative perspective, that might be Auburn's biggest loss of the season.

The Tigers are supposed to be the most important foe for the Crimson Tide. During Saban's tenure, Auburn was a better team than Tennessee 11 of his 17 seasons.

But if Tennessee was still the bigger rivalry to Alabama? That's a tough pill to swallow for Tiger fans.

Nick Saban made excuses for his Alabama teams losing to Auburn football five times

Gus Malzahn had Saban's number. Gene Chizik had the Camback. Tommy Tuberville clipped Saban in his first year in Tuscaloosa.

Instead of admitting that, Saban just claimed his players weren't fired up. For the Iron Bowl. Yeah right.

Saban rat-poisoned Auburn during his College GameDay debut saying they'd be the most improved team in the SEC. Perhaps he's reversing course now by claiming the Crimson Tide doesn't see the Iron Bowl as a big deal.

He must've wanted to give AU bulletin board material ahead of Kalen DeBoer's first Iron Bowl. Because he just gave the Tigers all the motivation needed to end this shaky season on a high-note in Tuscaloosa this November.