Being ranked No. 1 in the country might actually be a curse.
For the first time since 1990, the No. 1 team in the nation lost to an unranked opponent in consecutive weeks after Georgia fell at home to Auburn, 27-24.
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Georgia had defeated 53 consecutive unranked opponents.
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Chas Nimrod #5 of the Auburn Tigers celebrates a touchdown catch during a game between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Auburn Tigers at Sanford Stadium on Oct. 17, 2026, in Athens, Georgia. (Steve Limentani/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
It looked like all Georgia early, as they got out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. But the Dogs would not score on their next five drives, punting three times, missing a field goal and throwing a pick. The Tigers used that all to their advantage and scored 24 unanswered points to put Georgia on upset alert.
The Bulldogs entered the fourth quarter down 10, but an early field goal cut the deficit, and they were able to force two Auburn punts. After the second, they embarked on a 13-play, 94-yard touchdown drive to tie the game.
Auburn was stuffed and had to punt the ball away for a third consecutive drive, giving Georgia the ball at its own 39 with over a minute to go and all the momentum. They got a gift with a defensive pass interference on the first play.
But suddenly, all that momentum shifted.
On the next play, Gunnar Stockton lost a fumble, giving Auburn and all three of its timeouts the ball with 58 seconds at its own 44.
Auburn kicker Alex McPherson kicks a field goal as holder Hudson Kaak looks on during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Georgia on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, in Athens, Georgia. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)
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The Tigers got 22 yards on three straight carries and then drew a roughing the passer penalty, putting themselves in chip-shot range.
Alex McPherson came on for a 34-yard field goal, and he drilled it to complete the upset.
Texas lost the Red River Rivalry to Oklahoma last week, causing it to drop all the way to No. 7, in case you are wondering how far Georgia may fall.
This is also Georgia’s first unranked opponent loss at home under Kirby Smart since 2019.
Georgia, now 5-1, had taken the top spot after it defeated Alabama last week in a dogfight, but the spot is now up for grabs for squads like No. 2 Notre Dame, No. 3 Miami and No. 4 Ohio State.
Wide receiver Chas Nimrod of the Auburn Tigers celebrates a touchdown during the college football game between the Auburn Tigers and the Georgia Bulldogs on Oct. 17, 2026, at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia. (Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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The Bulldogs will be off next week before returning on Halloween to face Florida, which upset Texas in Austin earlier Saturday. Auburn, meanwhile, will host No. 22 LSU next week.
