re: ESPN: Alabama-LSU tops the national rivalry list

No poll of fans...just one writer's opinion. And then he proceeds to contradict himself.

"The animosity and disdain that seeps into every major rivalry isn't really there for this one. Sure, there was the Saban storyline that lingered for a few years because he's coached and won a national championship at both schools, but the loathing between players and fans in other rivalries really doesn't exist here."

Then it isn't a rivalry.

"No, this game's winner is looking for bigger, more important awards, such as a division title and national championship."

So is the winner of the Bama-Chattanooga game. LSU has very little chance of winning the West, and no chance of getting to the BCS. According to this standard, Bama-LSU isn't even remotely close to being as big of a rivalry game as Alabama-Auburn.

So even according to the author himself, this game fails to meet the standards of being a rivalry game.