The Deep South's Oldest Rivalry will be played for the 130th time on Saturday as Auburn hosts No. 10 Georgia in Jordan-Hare Stadium. The Tigers are looking to break an eight-game losing streak to the Bulldogs that dates back to the 2017 SEC title game.
Kirby Smart's Bulldogs are in the hunt for yet another spot in the College Football Playoff, while Auburn tries to get back on the winning track after two straight losses. As with every rivalry, there have been memorable moments, players, games and endings.
On Friday, we are taking a look at the five most disappointing Auburn losses since 2000. On Saturday, we will take a look at the five best wins since the turn of the century. Off we go:
Honorable Mention
November 12, 2016: Georgia 13, No. 9 Auburn 7
The ninth-ranked Tigers took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter, and then the offense did absolutely nothing else in the loss in Athens. Auburn put up just 164 yards, including a mere 27 passing yards by Sean White.
5. September 30, 2023: No. 1 Georgia 27, Auburn 20
In Hugh Freeze's first season, the undermanned Tigers stayed close to the back-to-back defending champions, taking the game into the fourth quarter tied. In the end, No. 1 Georgia had the answer in tight end Brock Bowers, who caught a 40-yard touchdown pass from Carson Beck with less than three minutes to go.
4. November 16, 2019: No. 4 Georgia 21, No. 12 Auburn 14
Touchdowns in the first three quarters put the No. 4 Bulldogs up 21-0 entering the fourth quarter, but No. 12 Tigers came roaring back with two scores to cut it to a one-score game. Bo Nix and Auburn had their chances, but never took advantage.
3. November 11, 2006: Georgia 37, No. 5 Auburn 15
Auburn's BCS title hopes were ruined as the unranked Bulldogs came in and blew the No. 5 Tigers out of the water, taking a 30-7 lead into halftime. Georgia ran for 227 yards and three touchdowns, led by Kregg Lumpkin's 105 yards on 21 carries.
2. November 16, 2002: No. 7 Georgia 24, No. 24 Auburn 21
All Auburn had to do was stop David Green and the Bulldogs' offense on 4th-and-long. Instead, the Georgia quarterback found Michael Johnson in the corner of the end zone for a 19-yard touchdown pass with 1:25 left.
1. December 2, 2017 (SEC Championship): No. 6 Georgia 28, No. 2 Auburn 7
Gus Malzahn's Tigers entered the title game in Atlanta as the hottest team in college football, knocking off No. 1 Georgia and No. 1 Alabama in the span of three weeks.
It seemed Auburn would continue on that path with a spot in the College Football Playoff on the line, scoring a touchdown on its first drive, but Georgia took control after that. A 64-yard touchdown run by D'Andre Swift clinched the title for the Bulldogs.