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Nick Saban says Tennessee was biggest rival while coaching at Alabama

dan harralson
·1 min read
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Head coach Nick Saban (L) of the Alabama Crimson Tide shakes hands with head coach Lane Kiffin (R) of the Tennessee Volunteers after the Crimson Tide's 12-10 win at Bryant-Denny Stadium on October 24, 2009 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Head coach Nick Saban (L) of the Alabama Crimson Tide shakes hands with head coach Lane Kiffin (R) of the Tennessee Volunteers after the Crimson Tide's 12-10 win at Bryant-Denny Stadium on October 24, 2009 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Nick Saban retired from coaching on Jan. 10. He served as Alabama's head coach from 2007-23, compiling a 201-29 (117-18 SEC) record, winning six national championships and nine Southeastern Conference titles.

Saban went 16-1 against Tennessee as the Crimson Tide's head coach. His only loss was in 2022 at Neyland Stadium.

Since his retirement, Saban has joined ESPN's "College GameDay." Ahead of the Tennessee-Alabama game on Saturday, Saban said his biggest rival as the Crimson Tide was the Vols.

"For our players, this was a bigger rivalry than any other game that we played," Saban said of Alabama playing Tennessee. "I’m talking about rivalry game. Even bigger than Auburn to our players."

PHOTOS: Tennessee-Alabama football series through the years

October 25, 2008; Knoxville, TN USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban (right) and Tennessee Volunteers head coach Phillip Fulmer (left) talk before the game at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
October 25, 2008; Knoxville, TN USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban (right) and Tennessee Volunteers head coach Phillip Fulmer (left) talk before the game at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: Nick Saban says Tennessee was biggest rival while coaching at Alabama