Auburn ended a nine-game losing streak in the Deep South's Oldest Rivalry and beat a No. 1-ranked Georgia team for the first time since 1942. The Tigers' 27-24 win in Athens came on Alex McPherson's 34-yard field goal as time expired.
Auburn trailed 14-0 in the first quarter, then scored 24 straight points to take a 24-14 lead into the fourth. Georgia tied the game on Gunner Stockton's four-yard touchdown pass to London Humphreys with 2:58 left. A late Stockton fumble then set up the winning kick. The comeback was the fifth-largest against a No. 1 team in the AP poll era, which dates to 1936.
Unranked teams had lost 195 consecutive games against top-ranked opponents when trailing by 14 points or more. Auburn was an 18.5-point underdog and 8-1 to win straight up.
The Bulldogs were 95-3 under Kirby Smart when leading by 14 points, including 65-0 against unranked opponents, until falling to Auburn. They had won 58 consecutive games when leading by two touchdowns.
The Tigers also snapped Georgia's 53-game winning streak against unranked foes, the longest in the FBS. The loss ended Georgia's one-week stay atop the AP poll.
Auburn outrushed Georgia 192-113, and quarterback Byrum Brown carried 26 times for 115 yards. The defense also forced three turnovers.
Auburn HC Alex Golesh’s opening statement after the Tigers’ 27-27 win over No. 1 Georgia. pic.twitter.com/wGcpEKY2Go
— Gunner Norene (@norene_gunner10) October 17, 2026
“I think we all want to get this program back to where you expect,” first-year coach Alex Golesh said. “That's why we came here. That's why we chose Auburn. That's why these guys chose Auburn.”
The Tigers improved to 4-2 overall and 2-2 in SEC play. The win gave Golesh a signature victory just six games into his tenure.