Auburn topples top-ranked Georgia with time-expiring kick
Alex McPherson made a 34-yard field goal as time expired to give Auburn a 27-24 upset over No 1 Georgia. Georgia threw two interceptions and lost a late fumble, while Auburn quarterback Byrum Brown rushed for 115 yards and a touchdown. The result marked the second consecutive week that the AP’s top-ranked team lost to an unranked opponent.
Auburn's victory ended Georgia's nine-game series winning streak and a 53-game run against unranked opponents. The Bulldogs' one-week stay at No. 1 in the AP poll also ended.
Auburn outgained Georgia on the ground, 192-113, while Byrum Brown totaled 115 rushing yards and a score on 26 attempts and threw for another touchdown. Georgia's Gunner Stockton threw two interceptions and fumbled late; Sylvester Smith-Reed recovered. A roughing-the-passer penalty aided Auburn's final drive. This was the first time since October 1990 that AP No. 1 lost in consecutive weeks.
The upset may lift Auburn's campus and alumni mood, while raising expectations for Coach Alex Golesh's program. It could draw more attention from recruits, broadcasters and fans, and may shift playoff and ranking debates. Georgia supporters could feel frustration, but the result may also remind audiences that college football outcomes remain unpredictable. Local businesses around Auburn and Athens could see modest changes in game-day spending, though any effect would likely be short-lived.