Georgia football vs. Auburn: A rivalry of upsets
The 1990’s
The century ended with a pretty bad upset for the Bulldogs. They were ranked no. 16 with two losses. But Auburn had lost five-straight earlier in the year and entered the game 4-5. Yet Georgia lost that day 38-21 in what would become one of last nails in Jim Donnan’s coffin as head coach.
Georgia’s loss at home to Auburn in 1997 isn’t one of the biggest upsets in the series, but it’s still a great example of why the favorites are truly the favorites. Georgia was coming off a win over Florida and only had one-loss, Auburn had two and couldn’t afford another. Georgia fell 45-34 and it was the Bulldogs, not Tigers eliminated from the division championship race.
On a personal note, this is game is the reason Auburn is the rival I hate the most. I was only four at the time, and I don’t remember much from the game. But I do remember Auburn fans taunting Georgia fans after the game ended.
I guess the 1997 loss was payback for Georgia upsetting Auburn in 1996. After all the Tigers came into that game with just two losses and right in the middle of a tight race for the SEC West. But Georgia already had five losses. That didn’t matter that day.
Auburn appeared to have stopped the upset bid before it began by taking a 28-7 halftime lead. But Mike Bobo and the defense brought Georgia back. As time expired, Bobo hit Corey Allen on the goal line as time expired to tie the game.
What ensued was madness as Georgia and Auburn entered the SEC’s first overtime game. It took four overtime periods, but Georgia finally left the Plains with a 56-49 upset victory.
While we’re talking about games ending 60 minutes with a tie, the 1994 game certainly should be mentioned among the best upsets in series history. Auburn not only entered the game 9-0, but they had a 20-game win-streak going. Georgia however, was 5-4 and not playing for anything but pride.
As previously mentioned, favorites are never really favorites in the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry. Eric Zeier led the Ray Goff coached Bulldogs to a 23-23 tie in Jordan-Hare Stadium. It was one of those rare ties that felt like a win, made sweeter by Georgia ending Auburn’s near two-season long win-streak. The Tigers 21-game unbeaten streak ended a week later against Alabama.