Full Breakdown
Auburn Upsets No. 1 Georgia 27-24 in Dramatic Comeback
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Auburn Completes Late-Game Rally
Auburn rallied from a 14-point early deficit to defeat No. 1 Georgia 27-24 on Saturday in Athens, Ga. The decisive play came when placekicker Alex McPherson converted a 34-yard field goal with two seconds remaining. The Tigers had taken a 24-14 lead in the third quarter, and Georgia tied the game at 24-24 with 2:58 left on a 4-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Gunner Stockton to London Humphreys. A forced fumble by Georgia’s Cody Sigler, recovered by safety Sylvester Smith-Reed, set up the final drive that ended with McPherson’s game-winning kick.
Background & Context
The loss marked the second consecutive week that the top-ranked team fell to an unranked opponent, following Texas’s defeat by Oklahoma the previous Saturday. Georgia’s streak of nine straight victories over Auburn and 53 consecutive wins against unranked teams ended with this game. Prior to the upset, top-ranked teams had won 93 straight home games against unranked foes since LSU’s loss to Arkansas on Nov. 23, 2007.
Key Figures & Groups
- Alex McPherson – Auburn placekicker, delivered the 34-yard winning field goal.
- Byrum Brown – Auburn quarterback, 115 rushing yards, one rushing touchdown, and a 9-yard passing touchdown.
- Gunner Stockton – Georgia quarterback, accounted for two interceptions, a fumble, and a 4-yard touchdown pass.
- Sylvester Smith-Reed – Auburn safety, recovered the critical late-game fumble.
- Gabe Harris Jr. – Georgia defender, penalized for roughing the passer, extending Auburn’s field-goal range.
Data & Statistics
- Final score: Auburn 27, Georgia 24.
- Auburn total offense: 24 points before the final field goal, including a 9-yard touchdown pass from Brown to Chas Nimrod and a 5-yard rushing touchdown by Brown.
- Georgia total offense: 24 points, highlighted by a 24-yard touchdown pass from Stockton to Lawson Luckie and a 4-yard touchdown pass to Humphreys.
- Byrum Brown rushed for 115 yards on 26 carries.
- Georgia committed three personal-foul penalties and two interceptions by Stockton.
- A roughing-the-passer penalty on Gabe Harris Jr. moved Auburn to the Bulldogs’ 19-yard line with 15 seconds left.
Why It Matters
The upset ends Georgia’s brief one-week tenure at the top of the AP Top 25 and shatters its long-standing dominance over unranked opponents. Auburn’s victory also breaks the 93-game home-win streak for top-ranked teams against unranked squads, underscoring the volatility of SEC competition late in the season. The result propels Auburn back into SEC contention and sets up a matchup with No. 22 Louisiana State the following Saturday. Georgia’s next game is scheduled against Florida on Oct. 31 in Atlanta.
What’s Next
- Auburn will host No. 22 Louisiana State next Saturday.
- Georgia travels to face Florida on Oct. 31 in Atlanta.