Georgia football fell into disarray following two Gunner Stockton interceptions against Auburn. Now the Bulldogs will become the third No. 1 team to take a fall in the top 25 rankings. The Tigers pulled off their biggest win of the Alex Golesh era in winning 27-24.
Alex McPherson rises as the new folk hero for Auburn, nailing this 34-yard walk-off field goal to send the college football world into chaos.
Alex McPherson drills the field goal and Auburn beats Georgia in Athens!#wde #wareagle pic.twitter.com/LunllBpC6q
— Carter Lowe (@carterjlowe) October 17, 2026
Georgia elevated to No. 1 thanks to SEC rival Texas falling to unranked Oklahoma last Saturday. But the Bulldogs fall into this historic feat not seen in 36 years.
UNREAL‼️
NO. 1'S FALL IN BACK-TO-BACK WEEKS TO UNRANKED TEAMS 😱 pic.twitter.com/DAyl6VwcjJ
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) October 17, 2026
Golesh took down traditional SEC heavyweight Florida and a nationally-ranked Boise State squad during his final USF run last season. Now he's earned his first victory against a No. 1 ranked team as a head coach. And Golesh made sure to yell out “War Damn Eagle” in excitement after the game.
But he wasn't the only one feeling energized by CFB's latest stunner. Even Houston Rockets star Jabari Smith Jr. shouted out his alma mater
WAR EAGLE
— Jabari Smith Jr (@jabarismithjr) October 17, 2026
But college football insider for On3 Brett McMurphy made sure to mention what Georgia's loss really means for the SEC. Especially amid chatter of the 24-team playoffs ahead of 2027.
Article Continues BelowTo show the SEC's overwhelming support for next year's 24-team playoff, 5 top 16 SEC teams lost today:
No. 1 Georgia
No. 6 Alabama
No. 7 Texas
No. 13 Missouri
No. 16 Miss State— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) October 17, 2026
And Georgia's loss fired off a huge question from former NFL quarterback and past Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III.
“WHO IS THE BEST TEAM IN THE COUNTRY?!?!? Does anybody want it??!?!” Griffin posted on the social media website X, formerly Twitter.
Georgia now joins the Longhorns and Ohio State as No. 1 ranked teams that lost during the regular season. Now Notre Dame can capitalize by beating BYU. Meanwhile, Georgia and coach Kirby Smart absorb a rare loss to an unranked foe.