Former Alabama head coach Nick Saban shares on ESPN’s College GameDay that it was tougher to motivate his team to play Tennessee than it was in-state rival Auburn.

ESPN’s College GameDay has been the most viewed college football pregame show for decades now. And recent addition’s Nick Saban and Pat McAfee have added a different type of flair to the show that seemed to be fizzling out over the past few years.

With one of the original analysts, Lee Corso missing episodes and not as much a part as he used to be, the insertion of these two as analysts has been a welcomed addition for many. Surprises now seem to happen on a weekly basis whether it be theatrics or verbal content on the show. And this past week was no different as former Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban took to the microphone sharing some eye-opening inside perspective regarding tradition Alabama’s traditional rivals, the Auburn Tigers and Tennessee Volunteers.

What did Nick Saban say about Auburn and Tennessee?

Although Auburn is Alabama’s in-state rival, Auburn may be the Tide’s most hated and natural rival being in-state, Saban shared perspective that as head coach it was actually more challenging to motivate his players for their matchup against Auburn instead of Tennessee.

“For our players, this was a bigger rivalry than any other game we played,” Saban said. 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 for Tennessee.”