Kirby Smart didn’t sugarcoat what happened Saturday in Auburn. After Georgia’s loss, the Bulldogs coach said his team let the game slip away with sloppy execution, costly penalties and a performance that fell short of the standard he expects.
“We like to say the Dawgs don’t beat the Dawgs, but they found a way to beat themselves today,” Smart said. “Like I say, humility is a week away.
Auburn played better than us today, they executed better than us today, didn’t turn the ball over and hit the red area plays. We had some really, really untimely, undisciplined, uncharacteristic penalties, so I give them credit, but at the end of the day, we pick it up, everything we want to do is in front of us.”
Smart added that the result, while significant to everyone else, was just the next game on Georgia’s schedule.
“I know it’s a big deal to everybody else, but to me it’s another game, and we have to turn around and get ready to go play again.”
Georgia got off to a solid start, but Auburn worked its way back into the game, grabbed the halftime lead and never gave it back. Smart credited the Tigers for out-executing his team and taking care of the football, and he pointed directly to Georgia’s inability to match that level of discipline.
The loss came on a wild day across college football and made Georgia one of several ranked teams to fall. Even so, the Bulldogs remain in strong position for the College Football Playoff and still lead the SEC standings because of the chaos elsewhere in the league. Still, the margin for error is shrinking, and Georgia can’t afford another flat showing over the next four weeks against Florida, Ole Miss and Mizzou.
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Alex Golesh Made One Auburn Decision Fans Will Talk About All Week
Alex Golesh had plenty to process after Auburns 27-24 upset of Georgia in Week 7, and the first-year head coach let the emotion show in a postgame interview. The win did more than just break through against a longtime rival. It also snapped Georgias 93-game home winning streak against unranked opponents and gave Golesh his first SEC road victory since taking over at Auburn.
The larger conversation around the game may end up centering on the choices Golesh made before kickoff, especially the decision to suspend linebacker Xavier Atkins. In a season where every SEC result can reshape the mood around a program, Auburns staff will get plenty of credit for the way it managed the week and put the Tigers in position to come away with one of the programs most eye-catching wins in recent memory. [Read more 🡒]
Elijah Melendezs Early Hit Changed Everything In Auburns Georgia Upset
Elijah Melendezs early punch to Georgias offense helped set the tone in Auburns 27-24 win, and the Tigers defense kept leaning on that edge all night. The linebacker was everywhere, finishing with nine tackles, a sack and an interception, and his first big hit helped knock Gunner Stockton out briefly with a stinger before the Georgia quarterback returned.
In Stocktons absence, backup Ryan Puglisi stepped in and completed several passes, giving Georgia enough to stay alive in a tight game. But Auburns defense never let the moment fully swing away, and Melendezs disruptive afternoon ended up being one of the key reasons the Tigers were able to pull off the upset. [Read more 🡒]
Kirby Smart Admits What Let Auburn Steal One In Athens
Kirby Smart didnt try to sugarcoat what happened in Athens. After Auburn walked out of Sanford Stadium with a 27-24 win, the Georgia coach pointed to the self-inflicted damage that swung the game, including two interceptions and a late fumble by quarterback Gunner Stockton. He also gave Auburn credit for staying composed in a hostile building and for making the kind of disciplined, clean plays that can turn a tight SEC game.
A big part of that was Byrum Brown, who kept finding ways to move the Tigers offense with his legs and his arm. Brown finished with 265 all-purpose yards, threw a touchdown pass and scored on the ground, giving Auburn enough balance to keep Georgia under pressure until the end. For Auburn, it was the kind of road win that can travel well, built as much on execution as on opportunity. [Read more 🡒]