Everyone knows that there is no love lost in the Alabama-Auburn Iron Bowl rivalry, so when a former Alabama player actually comes to the defense of the Tigers, it’s noteworthy.

On Monday, that’s exactly what former Alabama QB Greg McElroy did during an appearance on College Football Live.

The issue was that, when ESPN recently ranked the best teams of the last 20 years, the 2005 Texas Longhorns got more love than the 2010 Auburn Tigers. McElroy denounced that logic, saying the 2010 Tigers were incredibly similar to the 2005 Longhorns:

“First of all, it’s the worst list I’ve ever seen in my entire life,” McElroy starts. “The difference between the ’05 Longhorns and the 2010 Auburn Tigers is almost nothing. Elite, game-changing quarterback, Vince Young and Cam Newton. You have a great defensive player — Michael Huff at Texas, Nick Fairley at Auburn. They’re the same team, and yet, Texas is at No. 1, Auburn in 2010 is No. 15. It’s ridiculous. The list is a joke.”

That said, McElroy wasn’t about to name the 2010 Tigers the best team of the last 20 years. No, that honor goes to the 2001 Miami Hurricanes, according to McElroy.

Still, it’s always interesting to see an ex-Crimson Tide star defend his archrival.