Alex McPherson nailed a 34-yard field goal as time ran out, and just like that, unranked Auburn knocked off No. 1 Georgia 27-24 on Saturday. It’s the second straight week the top team in the AP Top 25 has been dropped by an unranked opponent, proving that no lead or ranking is safe in college football right now.
Byrum Brown Ran Wild, While Georgia Fumbled the Bag
Auburn quarterback Byrum Brown was an absolute force, leading a dominant running game that Georgia simply couldn’t stop. The guy rushed for 115 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries, plus he tossed a scoring pass. It was a physical, run-first attack, with the 235-pound Brown punishing defenders on designed runs and escaping after dropping back to pass. Georgia, on the other hand, stumbled after taking a 14-0 lead. Quarterback Gunner Stockton had a rough day, throwing two interceptions that doubled his season total through six games. Even after Auburn scored the next 24 points to take the lead, Stockton briefly rallied the Bulldogs, leading a 94-yard, 13-play touchdown drive capped by his 4-yard pass to London Humphreys to tie the game late. But then came the fumble. With 58 seconds left and Georgia driving for a potential go-ahead field goal, Stockton coughed it up on a run from the Auburn 46. Safety Sylvester Smith-Reed recovered it for Auburn at the 44, setting the stage for McPherson’s heroics.
A Top 25 Shake-Up and Broken Streaks
This loss isn’t just a tough one, it’s a history-maker for Georgia. They saw their nine-game winning streak over Auburn get snapped, their incredible 53 consecutive wins over unranked teams come to an end, and perhaps most shockingly, this will end their short one-week stay atop the AP Top 25. Georgia also holds the dubious distinction of breaking a 93-game streak where top-ranked teams had won at home against unranked opponents. The Bulldogs made too many mistakes, including three personal foul penalties, which just added to their woes. Their starting tailback, Nate Frazier, returned from a rib injury but was ineffective, gaining only 19 yards on nine carries. It was Auburn’s day, and they earned it by beating the Bulldogs on the ground and then making the plays when it mattered most.
Auburn, now 4-2 overall and 2-2 in the SEC, is riding high and will host No. 22 Louisiana State next Saturday. LSU just stomped No. 16 Mississippi State 31-0, so that’s going to be another huge matchup. Georgia, now 6-1 and 4-1, has an off week to regroup before they face Florida, who just upset No. 7 Texas 27-24, on October 31 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The college football world is wide open right now!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
Leave a Reply