Everything seemed to be trending toward the ultimate showdown for Auburn. The Tigers, losers in two of their first three games, had rallied off six straight wins to rise to No. 9 in the rankings, thrusting them into the thick of the College Football Playoff race. All they had to do was beat Georgia on the road and skate past Alabama A&M next week to set up a duel for the ages against Alabama with the SEC West title on the line.
So much for that. Georgia upended Auburn’s plans by stunning the Tigers 13–7 in Sanford Stadium on Saturday.