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If you're going to be a successful coach at Alabama, you have no choice but to take care of business against the Tide's biggest rivals.
Nick Saban certainly did so.
That means beating Auburn and Tennessee, mainly. And during the Saban era, you could throw LSU into that mix because that game became one of the most anticipated matchups in college football year over year.
Alabama played 52 games against those three opponents during Saban's 17 years in Tuscaloosa, and he amassed a 41-11 record in those contests. That included a 12-5 mark in the Iron Bowl, a 16-1 mark in the Third Saturday in October, and a 13-5 run against LSU.
And quite a few of those games weren't even close. Let's take a look back at five memorable times when Alabama rolled to easy wins over that trio.
5 memorable blowout wins for Alabama over its biggest rivals during the Nick Saban era
5. 2020: Alabama 55, LSU 17
Coming off the loss at home to LSU in 2019, Saban had a direct message to his team - and the competition - ahead of the 2020 matchup in Baton Rouge.
"They probably have some confidence that they can play well against Alabama, so we're going to have to change the way they think."
Alabama certainly did that. Led by a 231-yard, 3-touchdown day from eventual Heisman winner DeVonta Smith, the Crimson Tide rolled to a 55-17 win in "Death Valley", aka Bryant-Denny West.
4. 2008: Alabama 36, Auburn 0
One of the most cathartic Iron Bowls in history for Alabama fans. Having lost six in a row in the series leading into that game, there was little doubt as to what was going to happen on that November day in Tuscaloosa.
Alabama was undefeated coming in, while Auburn was just 5-6. A beatdown was expected, one that exorcized six years' worth of demons. That's exactly what the Bryant-Denny faithful got.
Alabama pounded Auburn on the ground, led by Glen Coffee's 144 yards rushing as the Crimson Tide dominated from the opening whistle on the way to a 36-0 win.
Saban rubbed a little salt in the wound by letting backup QB Greg McElroy toss a 34-yard touchdown pass to Marquis Maze with under three minutes to play.
3. 2016: Alabama 49, Tennessee 10
Saban dominated Tennessee like no other, winning 16 of the 17 meetings in the Third Saturday in October series. Most Alabama fans are still bitter about the one loss and a phantom pass interference that cost the Tide in Knoxville.
A number of the games against the Vols weren't close, either. That included the 2016 matchup, which saw Alabama coming in with a nine-game winning streak in the series and a confident Tennessee believing this was the year they would snap the streak.
The Vols had home-field advantage and were ranked No. 9. This was the year. They could feel it in the air in Neyland.
Instead, it was yet another Alabama beatdown. A pick-six late in the first quarter by Ronnie Harrison to put the Tide up 14-0 removed any real doubt that Tennessee had a chance. Alabama rolled to a 39-point win and outgained the Vols 594-163.
2. 2012: Alabama 49, Auburn 0
If you remember this Iron Bowl, Alabama could have named its score. Saban could have hung close to 100 on Auburn during this matchup.
Alabama scored touchdowns on all six of its offensive possessions in the first half to take a 42-0 lead into the locker room. The Tide's first possession of the second half ended the same way, with AJ McCarron hitting Amari Cooper for a touchdown to push the lead to 49-0 with over nine minutes to play in the third quarter.
Saban called off the dogs from there to keep the blowout from reaching historic proportions.
1. 2011 National Championship: Alabama 21, LSU 0
Saban won six National Championships during his 17 years as Alabama's head coach. There was never a more satisfying performance than the National Championship Game for the 2011 season.
Alabama earned a rematch against LSU for the national title after losing 9-6 in overtime at home to the Tigers two months prior. Every Alabama fan knew that the Crimson Tide had been the better team that day, and missed field goals and untimely miscues proved costly.
When they got their second chance, they didn't waste it.
In one of the most dominant defensive performances of any era, Alabama held unbeaten LSU to 92 total yards and never allowed them to finish a drive on the Tide's side of the 50.
The Crimson Tide built a 15-0 lead on the strength of five Jeremy Shelley field goals before Trent Richardson punched in the exclamation point with a touchdown run in the 4th quarter.
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This article was originally published on bamahammer.com as 5 times Nick Saban absolutely embarrassed Alabama’s biggest rivals.
