Interesting Tidbits on Auburn’s Win in Athens, Basketball, and Bananas

Who’s that coming down the track? Auburn tidbits after a win in Athens! Let’s get to it.

🐶 HOW ’BOUT THEM DAWGS?

Auburn pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the year Saturday, taking down Georgia 27-24 in Athens. The Tigers erased an early deficit scoring 24 unanswered points and watched Alex McPherson drill a 34 yard field goal as time expired. Golesh is now 1-0 against Kirby Smart. It cannot be overstated how monumental it is beating Georgia IN ATHENS. Mind you, this is Alex Golesh’s first year. Sign of things to come?

👎🏼 EXCUSES GALORE

The Georgia faithful will tell you they were tired from an emotional game in Tuscaloosa. Kirby preaches Dawgs don’t beat Dawgs. Georgia didn’t lose that game, Auburn came back and took it from them. Physicality won that game and Auburn’s best and arguably most physical defensive player didn’t make the trip. Sure Stockton was responsible for 3 turnovers but Auburn only scored 3 points off the 3 turnovers. Auburn beat Georgia at the line of scrimmage and out gained them on the ground by 79 yards. On paper does Georgia have the more talented roster? Yes. Golesh outcoached Smart and that’s what it came down to. Georgia fans want to say Auburn is hanging the banner for the win. I’d be happy to.. and we’ll leave room for 2027 on it as well.

🏈 PROCESS TO BUY STOCK IN

With Saturday’s upset of #1 Georgia, Golesh became the first college football coach to beat the nation’s top ranked team in his debut season at a school since… Gus Malzahn at Auburn in 2013 (Kick Six). Alex Golesh has preached that the process will deliver results all offseason. You saw that process deliver a result on Saturday. 2026 may not be a playoff season but Golesh is proving that his approach to building a program will lead to successes. Buy stock in Auburn over the next few years now.

🚨 ATKINS OUT AT AUBURN

Speaking of standards… in a stunning development, Auburn has dismissed All American linebacker Xavier Atkins from the football program. The former LSU transfer was suspended for Saturday’s upset of No. 1 Georgia. Alex Golesh has continually preached a standard for his players and staff and not upholding that standard won’t be tolerated. Many other coaches wouldn’t have the courage to dismiss an All American. Golesh is serious about his approach.

🏈 LINED UP AND BEAT YOU

For all the talk about Georgia’s dominance in the trenches, Auburn looked like the more physical team Saturday. The Tigers outrushed the Bulldogs 192-113, piling up 46 rushing attempts and 10 rushing first downs. Auburn’s much maligned offensive line helped produce its best rushing performance against Georgia this season, while the defensive front limited the Bulldogs to just 113 yards on the ground and Nate Frazier to 19 yards on nine carries. Auburn controlled the ground game against what was supposed to be one of the SEC’s best teams in the trenches. The 192 rushing yards is the most Georgia has given up this season.

🐶 THE STREAK IS OVER

For the first time since 2017, Auburn has beaten Georgia and will have 365 days to celebrate it. Bragging rights earned. The win snapped a nine game losing streak in the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry and marked Auburn’s first victory in Athens since 2005. It was also Auburn’s fourth victory over an AP No. 1 team. That is the most of any program in college football history.

🏈 ELITE COMPANY

Byrum Brown joined some pretty exclusive company Saturday. The Auburn quarterback rushed for 115 yards against Georgia, becoming just the second Auburn quarterback in the last 40 years to eclipse 100 rushing yards against the Bulldogs. The other? Cam Newton. Byrum, who was turnover prone all season, did not turn the ball over once and seemed dialed in all game.

🏟️ HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE?

Before Auburn walked into Sanford Stadium Saturday, AP #1 teams had won 93 consecutive home games against unranked opponents. That streak is officially over. The Tigers also became just the second Auburn team ever to beat a #1 opponent on the road, joining the 1994 Tigers who stunned Florida in Gainesville.

🦵 MCPHERSON’S MOMENT

Alex McPherson delivered the biggest kick of his Auburn career Saturday, drilling the walk off from 34 yards as time expired. The veteran kicker also drilled a 49 yarder in the second quarter to give Auburn its first lead. From battling health issues earlier in his career to delivering a walk off winner between the hedges, that’s a pretty special moment.

🛡️ DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS

Auburn’s defense deserves plenty of credit for Saturday’s upset. After allowing touchdowns on Georgia’s first two possessions, the Tigers held the Bulldogs scoreless for the remainder of the first half and forced three turnovers in the game. Auburn’s defense had a season low 7 missed tackles according to PFF. The more physical team won this game. We were told all season Georgia was the dominant physical team. What happened?

🏟️ WELCOME BACK TO JORDAN-HARE

Auburn returns home Saturday to face LSU at 11 a.m. CT in Jordan-Hare Stadium. The Tigers enter at 4-2 overall following their win in Athens. LSU is coming off a 31-0 shutout of Mississippi State. Auburn is asking fans to wear orange for the matchup, which suddenly feels a whole lot more interesting than it did a week ago. SEC Nation is also making the trip to Auburn.

🏆 NO RANKING, NO PROBLEM

Despite taking down the nation’s top ranked team on the road, Auburn remained outside the AP Top 25 on Sunday. Auburn may not have a number next to its name yet (although they should) but Saturday certainly got everyone’s attention. The AP poll has teams ranked ahead of Auburn with worse losses and no one has a better win in 2026 than Auburn on the road in Athens.

🏈 WHAT’S NEXT?

Auburn needs to find a way to beat LSU or Ole Miss. A win over either opponent would be monumental for a team still trying to change the perception surrounding its season. It would give the Tigers momentum heading into the last portion of the schedule and make November feel like there’s something to play for.

🏀 CAN’T MISS EXHIBITION

Auburn basketball gets a shot at Alabama Thursday when the Tigers play in an exhibition at Legacy Arena in Birmingham. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. CT. BJCC is advertising this game as “The Feud”. Steven Pearl’s squad will look to bounce back from last week’s 82-71 exhibition loss to Florida State. Auburn is working through eligibility situations and rotations.

⚾ FALL BALL TICKETS

Auburn baseball fans can get a look at the 2027 Tigers when UAB visits Plainsman Park for a fall exhibition on Friday, November 6, at 6 p.m. CT. Tickets went on sale to the general public Monday, with all proceeds benefiting the Auburn Baseball Student Athlete Enhancement Fund. The Tigers swept UAB last year and out scored them 27-4 in two games.

🍌 THE BANANAS ARE COMING

The Savannah Bananas are coming back to Auburn, and this time they’re bringing the entire Banana Ball circus. Auburn will host the opening weekend of the 2027 Banana Ball World Tour February 25-27, featuring all six teams across three games. The first two will take place at Plainsman Park before the Savannah Bananas face the Firefighters inside Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday night.