My connotation of rivalry dictates that the two teams are generally equal and the game in question has far reaching consequences. The Iron Bowl historically has only mattered in national sense when Alabama has lost the game. This game has only featured top 10 teams a handful of times.
Alabama vs Tennessee has been a much bigger game throughout the years. Of course the difference in the 3rd Sat in Oct and the Iron Bowl is that underneath all the hate between UT/UA there does lie a degree of mutual respect.
Don't get me wrong, I hate Auburn more than I love Alabama. I'm a 5th generation alumn on one side of the family and 3rd on the other. I live and breathe Bama football. I hate Auburn. Everything they do is second rate. They have leached off of Alabama's successes for years and owe their existence to that one game on their schedule.
I wish they would cancel the game since it never seems to benefit Alabama, it's a lose/lose. If you win....so what? you beat Auburn. You lose...it's embarrassing.