ATHENS, Ga. — Unranked Auburn shocked top-ranked Georgia on Saturday night, securing a 27-24 victory on a 34-yard walk-off field goal by senior kicker Alex McPherson at Sanford Stadium.
McPherson’s kick as time expired delivered the signature win of first-year head coach Alex Golesh’s tenure with the Tigers, snapping Georgia’s nine-game winning streak in the rivalry and dealing a major blow to the Bulldogs’ national title defense hopes.
Late turnover sets up winning kick
The Bulldogs appeared positioned to escape after rallying from behind in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Gunner Stockton directed a game-tying touchdown drive, but the momentum vanished in the final minute. Driving for a possible game-winning score, Stockton fumbled on a rush from the Auburn 46-yard line with 58 seconds remaining, NJ.com reported.
Auburn safety Sylvester Smith-Reed pounced on the loose ball at the Auburn 44-yard line. The Tigers capitalized immediately, aided downfield by a roughing-the-passer penalty against Georgia defensive lineman Gabe Harris Jr. That penalty pushed Auburn into field-goal range, clearing the path for McPherson to drill the winner and prompt Auburn players to storm the field.
Stockton struggled throughout the evening, finishing with two interceptions alongside the decisive late turnover. Georgia tailback Nate Frazier, returning to action from a rib ailment, was limited to 19 rushing yards on nine attempts, according to NJ.com.
Historical streaks wiped away
Auburn quarterback Byrum Brown punished the Bulldogs on the ground, carrying the ball 26 times for 115 yards and a touchdown while throwing for 150 yards and another score. Brown became the first quarterback to rush for at least 100 yards in a victory over an AP No. 1 team since Texas quarterback Vince Young did so against USC in the 2005 national title game, according to ESPN Research.
The Tigers erased a 14-0 first-half deficit, toppling several long-standing college football trends documented by ESPN Research:
- Unranked programs trailing an AP No. 1 team by at least 14 points had dropped 195 consecutive games, dating back to Michigan State’s rally over Ohio State in 1998.
- AP No. 1 teams had won 93 consecutive home matchups against unranked opponents, with the previous defeat occurring when LSU fell to Arkansas in 2007.
- Under head coach Kirby Smart, Georgia had been 65-0 when leading unranked opponents by 14 or more points, and 95-3 overall in such situations.
- Georgia had compiled 53 straight wins against unranked opponents before Saturday’s upset.
Rankings shakeup continues
Georgia dropped to 6-1 overall and 4-1 in Southeastern Conference play, guaranteeing that its one-week stay at the summit of the AP Top 25 will conclude. The Bulldogs had assumed the No. 1 ranking after Texas was upset by Oklahoma a week earlier.
College football has now seen the No. 1 team lose to an unranked opponent on a walk-off field goal in consecutive weeks, marking the first time that has occurred in AP poll history, ESPN Research reported. Georgia joins Texas and Ohio State on the list of top-ranked squads to stumble during the regular season.
The loss capped a chaotic weekend across the conference. Texas fell 27-24 to Florida, while Alabama dropped a 26-10 decision to Tennessee. It marked the first time Georgia, Alabama and Texas all lost on the same day since 1996, according to ESPN.
Auburn improved to 4-2 overall and 2-2 in league play, halting a slide of five consecutive losing seasons. Georgia now faces an uphill climb in the SEC title chase as both teams prepare to learn their updated positions in the national rankings on Sunday.
