Alex McPherson kicked a game-winning 34-yard field goal as time expired and Auburn, led by quarterback Byrum Brown’s dominant running game, upset No 1 Georgia 27-24 on Saturday.
It was the second straight week the top team in the AP Top 25 lost to an unranked opponent after then-No 1 Texas fell to Oklahoma last Saturday. Auburn’s win meant the team ranked No 1 in the AP Top 25 lost in consecutive weeks for the first time since October 1990, according to Sportradar.
Late fumble seals Georgia’s fate
Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton led a long game-tying touchdown drive in the fourth quarter but lost a fumble with 58 seconds remaining and the Bulldogs driving for a potential go-ahead field goal.
Stockton, who also threw two interceptions, fumbled on a run from the Auburn 46-yard line. Safety Sylvester Smith-Reed recovered for the Tigers at the Auburn 44. A roughing-the-passer penalty on Georgia’s Gabe Harris Jr helped set up McPherson’s game-winning kick. Auburn players swarmed the field.
“It’s pretty neat,” said Auburn’s first-year coach, Alex Golesh. “I’m really proud of our guys. Really proud of them.
“We’re going to build Auburn back to where everybody wants it, one game at a time. Just hang with us.”
Brown ran for 115 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries and added a touchdown pass.
Streaks come to an end
Georgia (6-1, 4-1 Southeastern Conference) saw their streaks of nine straight wins over Auburn and 53 consecutive wins over unranked teams come to an end in a loss that will also end the Bulldogs’ brief one-week stay atop the AP top 25.
Auburn (4-2, 2-2) beat the Bulldogs on the ground, outrushing Georgia 192-113. Running back Nate Frazier returned from a rib injury to start for Georgia but was ineffective, gaining only 19 yards on nine carries.
Georgia trailed 24-14 before rallying with a 42-yard field goal by Peyton Woodring. Stockton led a game-tying touchdown drive that began at the Georgia six-yard line and covered 94 yards in 13 plays, capped by his four-yard pass to London Humphreys.
Stockton’s two interceptions doubled his previous season total through six games. The Bulldogs were also hurt by mistakes, including three personal foul penalties.
“We helped them,” said Georgia coach Kirby Smart. “We had three turnovers and critical penalties. ... We had some really, really untimely, uncharacteristic and undisciplined penalties.”
Auburn’s comeback
After Georgia took a 14-0 lead, Auburn scored the next 24 points.
Georgia looked dominant in the opening minutes, even after Stockton had to leave after hitting the field helmet-first on the opening play. Ryan Puglisi completed all three of his passes, including a 41-yarder to Craig Dandridge Jr, before Dwight Phillips’ 15-yard touchdown run.
Stockton returned for the next possession and threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to tight end Lawson Luckie for a 14-0 lead.
Auburn responded with a physical, run-first attack led by the 235lb Brown, who was effective both on designed runs and when taking off after dropping back to pass.
Top-ranked teams had won 93 consecutive home games against unranked opponents since LSU lost to Arkansas 50-48 in double overtime on 23 November 2007.
