If Auburn were in any other state, they may have had more national prestige. If they were in the ACC, they may have have been a consistent powerhouse. But they’re in Alabama and even when they have a great season, they’re still Alabama’s little brother who’s just having an unusually good year. At least that’s how most of the country sees them.
Auburn will point to this stat or that stat and try and convince you that they have some relevance and they have had more success in this time or that time than Alabama, but no argument they make can undo these simple facts.