Alabama vs. Auburn: Why the Iron Bowl Is College Football's Greatest Rivalry

Fans all over America will debate college football's greatest rivalry until the end of time and most likely thereafter, but there's no debating that as the Iron Bowl is the best.

Since the SEC has taken over college football in the 21st century, each game matters that much more. And rivalry games only become entrenched with that much more magnitude because of the stakes.

As for Auburn and Alabama, both have combined for three SEC conference titles since the century began, as well as two national championships and four BCS bowl appearances.

The 2010 Iron Bowl was arguably the best game between the schools in that last 20 years, if not more, because from a general college football fan's perspective, this is one can't-miss rivalry game.

Now, if we add the rest of each school's football history, obviously Alabama has the edge with legendary head coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. However, the Tigers have cemented themselves with players like Bo Jackson and with Cam Newton from last season's championship team.

With the SEC undoubtedly the nation's most dominant conference, the rivalry game has been significantly enhanced outside of just SEC football fans.

The year 2004 was perhaps one of the seasons that sticks out as Auburn went undefeated, but got shafted by the BCS.

The Tigers had to go into Tuscaloosa, Ala., which is never easy regardless of how good you are, but managed to win 21-13.

Can you imagine if the Tigers fall in that game? Then us college football fans don't have an argument for who should have won the '04 national title.

In addition, that just helps add more wood to the fire in the hopes of the FBS adopting a playoff system.

In 2009, Alabama's last national title season, the Tide had to win on the road in Auburn to keep their national title hopes alive. Alabama eventually won the Iron Bowl, 26-21, the SEC title of then No. 1 Florida and the national title.

As for the 2010 Iron Bowl, that's just more proof as to how important this game has been this century. The winner finished the season undefeated and another national title came from it.

Pick things up in 2011 and we see Alabama needing a win to keep its national title hopes alive despite having lost to No. 1 LSU. If the Crimson Tide go on to win the national title, it only gives the Iron Bowl that much more credibility.

As if it needed anymore, but more never hurts does it?

That said, put the SEC aside and just focus on the Iron Bowl by itself and we see a game where there always seems to be conference and national title implications.

So not only does that prove more about how insanely good the SEC has become, but how great these two programs have been in this brief century alone. Pretty impressive stuff when discussing just one game.

It just happens to be one really important game in addition to bragging rights.

Follow John Rozum on Twitter @ Sportswriter27