Alabama-Tennessee is a bigger rivalry game than Alabama-Auburn, Nick Saban said on Saturday.

The former Alabama coach, 72, explained Saturday during ESPN’s “College GameDay” he never had to motivate his players for the Third Weekend in October.

“For our players, this was a bigger rivalry than any other game that we played,” he said Saturday. “I’m talking about rivalry games, 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 the Tennessee game.”

The game has been called the Third Saturday in October since 1939 in a rivalry where this will be just the 22nd game with both teams ranked in the top 20. Tennessee is looking for back-to-back home wins over Alabama since 2006, before Saban stalked the sidelines in Tuscaloosa.

“This is a big rivalry and a lot of people around the country don’t realize to the old-time Alabama folks and Tennessee folks, this rivalry was born because of coach (Paul) Bryant and coach (General Robert) Neyland. Both great coaches, and both have stadiums named after them.

“There’s a lot of tradition: The Third Saturday in October is like a holiday on those two states. The cigar tradition of winning this game afterward is a fun thing.”

Lee Corso added the keys to the Tide’s victory:

• Jalen Milroe playing well.
• Tide must create turnovers

Saban then gave his 2 cents.

“Let me say this, they better get off the field on third down,” he quipped.

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.