It was Shake-up Saturday in the SEC.
The conference’s highest-ranked teams — No. 1 Georgia, No. 6 Alabama and No. 7 Texas — lost as touchdown or more favorites, leaving the SEC with no unbeatens after Week 7 of the regular season and surely shuffling tentative seeding for the College Football Playoff.
It was the first time since Oct. 26, 1996, that those three heavyweights lost on the same day, according to the SEC.
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The Bulldogs (6-1, 4-1) had been the conference’s last remaining unbeaten, but Gunner Stockton threw two interceptions and fumbled with less than a minute to play in a 27-24 stunner to unranked Auburn (4-2, 2-2). Georgia, which had won 53 in a row against unranked teams, was a 20½-point favorite in the game known as “the Deep South’s oldest rivalry.”
Alex McPherson’s 34-yard field goal on the final play sent the visiting sideline into a frenzy. It was Auburn’s first win in Athens since 2005 and the program’s first road victory against the nation’s No. 1 team since winning at Florida in 1994.
“We’re just continuing to plug,” said Auburn coach Alex Golesh, whose team scored on a trick play and an amazing, one-handed catch. “One game at a time. Just hang with us.”
Auburn’s win meant the team ranked No. 1 in the AP Top 25 lost in consecutive weeks for the first time since Notre Dame and Michigan in October 1990, according to Sportradar. Then-No. 1 Texas lost last week to Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry.
That one seemed to have a carryover effect for the Longhorns.
Arch Manning had more late-game woes against Florida. He fumbled with less than two minutes to play — a week after throwing an interception that helped Oklahoma win — and the Longhorns (4-2, 1-2) lost 27-24 at home to the Gators (5-2, 3-2). Texas was a 10½-point favorite.
Manning completed 14 of 20 passes for 173 yards and a touchdown. He was sacked five times as Texas lost consecutive regular-season games for the first time since 2021.
Like Auburn and Florida, No. 14 Tennessee delivered a defensive gem in the rivalry known as the “The Third Saturday in October.” The Volunteers (6-1, 3-1) held Alabama to 201 yards in a 26-10 win in Knoxville, shutting down dynamic quarterback Keelon Russell and breaking out cigars for the third consecutive year.
The Vols finished with five sacks and four takeaways.
“Phenomenal performance,” Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said.
Alabama (5-2, 3-2) was a 7½-point road favorite and played without leading receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams. Fans rushed the field afterward, and the Vols will gladly pay the SEC fine.
Tennessee won despite being without quarterback Faizon Brandon (shoulder). George MacIntyre filled in and got plenty of help from DeSean Bishop, who ran for 159 yards and two touchdowns.
It was Alabama’s second straight loss.
In other SEC action, Lane Kiffin’s former and current teams rolled. Kiffin and No. 22 LSU overwhelmed 16th-ranked Mississippi State 31-3. And No. 9 Ole Miss thumped 13th-ranked Missouri 31-3.