Auburn fans would say that the Iron Bowl is the best rivalry in all of college football. Does USA TODAY Sports agree?

Even if the SEC stays with an eight-game conference schedule, some key secondary rivalry games could be preserved, Greg Sankey says.

Greg Sankey said he can't commit to the SEC protecting some of Alabama and Auburn's long-standing rivalries in an eight-game format.

“The expectations define this place,” an anonymous SEC assistant coach said in Athlon Sports’ 2025 College Football Preview magazine. “I think you’ll see a competitive program that could end up in Atlanta and make the playoff, but this is a new era. ’Bama’s not a surefire lock every season.”