The Iron Bowl. The Game. Which rivalry is better?
From a national perspective, the Michigan-Ohio State and Auburn-Alabama rivalries capture the most attention on Rivalry Week on a consistent basis. Heading into the 2017 season, that's the case once again.
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Few people in the South will claim Michigan-Ohio State is better. The same goes in Big Ten country with Auburn-Alabama. Maybe it's best to look at the numbers, past and present. Let's size them up:
Longest rivalry
Alabama and Auburn first played in 1893, four years before Michigan played Ohio State met for the first time in 1897.
Advantage: Iron Bowl
Closest rivalry
Alabama leads the all-time series against Auburn 45-35-1. That's closer than Michigan's 58-48-6 lead on Ohio State. It's the same 10-game difference between the two.
Advantage: Tie
Last 10 years
Ohio State has won nine of the last 10 meetings against Michigan, though the 2010 victory was vacated. Alabama has won seven of the last 10 against Auburn since Nick Saban's arrival. Still, Auburn has managed to steal a few games, and in miraculous fashion.
Advantage: Iron Bowl
Last year
Alabama grinded out a 30-12 victory against Auburn in Tuscaloosa, while Ohio State and Michigan played a double-overtime classic that ended with “The Spot” and a 30-27 Buckeyes victory.
Advantage: The Game
This year
Auburn and Alabama meet with the SEC West championship on the line. Ohio State has already clinched the Big Ten East Division, which reduces Michigan to a spoiler.
Advantage: Iron Bowl
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All-time wins
Michigan and Ohio State rank first and fourth, respectively, among FBS schools in all-time wins. Alabama and Auburn rank sixth and 13th, respectively.
Advantage: The Game
Stadiums
Michigan Stadium, also known as "The Big House,” is the largest stadium in college football. Ohio Stadium is fourth. Bryant-Denny Stadium and Jordan-Hare Stadium are seventh and 15th, respectively.
Advantage: The Game
Heisman Trophy winners
Ohio State and Michigan have combined for 10 Heisman Trophy winners. That includes the only two-time winner in Archie Griffin and the only defensive player in Charles Woodson. Alabama and Auburn had three of their five combined winners go in the last 10 years in Mark Ingram, Cam Newton and Derrick Henry. Auburn also boasts Pat Sullivan and Bo Jackson.
Advantage: The Game
National titles
Alabama claims more national titles than any team (16) but Michigan (11) and Ohio State (8) together have one more national title than Alabama and Auburn (2).
Advantage: The Game
AP national titles
Alabama (10) and Auburn (2) have combined for 12 AP national championships, and the Crimson Tide are making a run at an unprecedented fifth under Saban. Ohio State (5) and Michigan (2) have seven AP national championships.
Advantage: Iron Bowl
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BCS championship appearances
Alabama and Auburn appeared in five consecutive national championship games from 2009-13, and claimed four. That doesn't even include Auburn's undefeated 2004 season. Ohio State had three BCS championship appearances and one national title. Michigan did not make the BCS championship game.
Advantage: Iron Bowl
Playoff appearances
Alabama has reached the College Football Playoff all three seasons and has reached the championship game twice. Ohio State has two playoff appearances and one championship game appearance. Auburn and Michigan have not made it to the playoff yet.
Advantage: Iron Bowl
Iconic coaches
Bear "Bear" Bryant (232) and Ralph "Shug" Jordan (175) combined for 407 wins during their respective tenures at Alabama and Auburn, eight more than Woody Hayes (205) and Bo Schembechler (194) at Ohio State and Michigan. Hayes and Schembechler, however, combined for a .785 winning percentage at those schools, better than Bryant and Jordan's combined mark of .759.
Advantage: The Game
Current coaches
At their current schools, Saban (125-19) and Gus Malzahn (44-20) are 169-39 at their current schools, an .812 winning percentage. Urban Meyer (70-8) and Jim Harbaugh (28-9) are 98-16, a winning percentage of .852. Meyer and Harbaugh have a better combined winning percentage, but Saban and Malzahn have both played in national championship games and have conference titles. Saban is slightly ahead of Meyer, and Harbaugh vs. Malzahn is a hell of an argument depending on what side you are on.
Edge: Tie
Verdict
That's 14 different categories, and it ends with a 6-6-2 tie.
Where does Alabama-Auburn have the edge? The in-state pride factor can't be measured, and as of now the recent success of both programs makes that the bigger rivalry of the moment, and certainly of the last decade. The “Kick Six” is the biggest single moment between both rivalries — one of the greatest plays in college football history. This year marks the eighth top-10 showdown between teams, where Auburn has a 4-3 lead (and 0-2 since Saban took over at Alabama).
The Game, however, could counter with the “10 Year War” between Hayes and Schembechler, which produced six top-10 showdowns. In fact, The Game has been a matchup of top-10 teams 19 times. That should continue with Meyer and Harbaugh.
There's no easy answer here. Last year, The Game was bigger. This year, it's the Iron Bowl. Next year it could swing back.
That's why these are the two best rivalries in college football.
