Alabama vs Auburn: Can Gene Chizik Ever Surpass Nick Saban as SEC's Top Coach?

Today's Iron Bowl between Alabama and Auburn not only features a matchup of the past two BCS Champions but also gives us a look at two of the best coaches in the country in the Crimson Tide's Nick Saban and the Tigers' Gene Chizik.

While both guys are certainly masters of their craft, it begs to ask one question: Will Chizik ever surpass Saban as the SEC's top coach?

For Auburn fans, unfortunately, it's a simple answer. No.

Not as long as Saban is at Alabama.

The records of the two are similar since Chizik took over at Auburn in 2009. Saban has accumulated a 34-4 record since 2008 at Alabama, while Chizik has done fine for himself, going 29-9 since 2009.

Both men have also brought home a BCS Championship for their respective programs.

But when it comes to the being the best, Saban has done it for a lot longer than Chizik. The media also holds him on a higher pedestal than the younger Chizik. Saban's 110 more career victories than Chizik has to stand for something.

Saban has also rebuilt Alabama into a program that can realistically contend for a championship every season. Can Chizik get Auburn to that point? Probably, but it could take some time to sustain it.

That's not knocking Chizik in any way. He could coach my team any day. However, when we are talking about the best coach in the conference, Chizik still has a long way to go to leapfrog Saban—or LSU's Les Miles, for that fact.

The debate on the SEC's top coach is likely saved for Saban and Miles at this point, but Chizik might force his way into the conversation one day.

Until then, though, Saban still claims the honor as the SEC's top head coach.