Auburn’s Late‑Gasp Field Goal Defeats No. 1 Georgia, Leaving Back‑to‑Back Hits for Elite Teams
Auburn secured a dramatic victory over the number‑one Georgia squad after Alex McPherson nailed a 34‑yard field goal as time expired. Behind leading rushing back Byrum Brown’s assertive ground assault, the Tigers overcame Georgia 27‑24 on Saturday.
This marks the third consecutive week this season where the nation’s No. 1 in the AP Top 25 has been knocked out by an unranked side. Auburn’s win ends the leader’s streak of losses to non‑elite opponents for the first time since October 1990, according to Sportradar.
Even though Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton engineered a lengthy 94‑yard, 14‑point comeback in the fourth quarter, he fumbled with 58 seconds remaining, leaving the Bulldogs open for another attempt at a rivalizing score.
On the critical turn, Stockton amassed two interceptions during a rally while another Auburn runner stalled the Bulldogs at the Georgia 46. Later, safety Sylvester Smith‑Reed seized possession near the Auburn 44, setting up McPherson’s decisive strike across the goal line. Players surged onto the field to seal the win.
“It’s truly satisfying,” said Auburn head coach Alex Golesh. “I’m incredibly proud of my athletes and everyone involved.”
“Our task is to rebuild Auburn step‑by‑step until confidence returns to the program,” Golesh added.
“We did help them,” admitted Georgia coach Kirby Smart. “Three turnovers and ill‑timed, uncharacteristic penalties cost us dearly. These were completely untimely, disruptive infractions.”
“We’ll build Auburn back again and again, one game at a time. Stick with us.” said the Georgia manager.
Georgia (6‑1, conference record 4‑1) shattered its own streak of nine straight victories over Auburn and its thirty‑three‑consecutive winover non‑ranked foes in a loss that also cut the Bulldogs’ solo stop at the top of the AP rankings.
Auburn (4‑2, 2‑2) dominated Georgia on the ground, outranking them 192‑113. Running back Nate Frazier entered as a replacement for a rib injury but contributed minimal yardage.
Georgia moved ahead 24‑14 before rounding out the score with a 42‑yard field goal by Peyton Woodring. Stockton then guided a game‑tying offensive display—a 14‑play, 94‑yard run highlighted by a four‑yard TD pass to London Humphreys.
Subsequently, Stockton delivered a four‑yard TD to the tight end, narrowing the gap before Auburn exploded for the next 24 points.
Despite Georgia’s early dominance in the opening minutes, including a 14‑0 lead, Auburn’s physical run attack, fronted by the 235‑lb Brown, overwhelmed the Bulldogs in the latter half.
Top‑ranked programs had recorded 93 straight home wins versus unranked teams since LSU fell to Arkansas 50‑48 in double OT on 23 November 2007.
Auburn kicker Alex McPherson celebrates his game‑winning field goal on Saturday. Photograph: Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire/Getty Images