Sports
Sports

Watch: The wildest game in Georgia-Auburn history

Georgia beat Auburn 56-49 in four overtimes in 1996. The game was made even more memorable by Georgia’s mascot UGA V trying to take a chunk out of an Auburn player after a touchdown. UGA coach Jim Donnan benched Mike Bobo and started Brian Smith at QB. Georgia was 3-5 at the time and had just lost to Florida 47-7. Georgia trailed by 21 in the second quarter and by 14 points at halftime. Bobo came in and was 21 for 37 for 360 yards, with two TDs and no interceptions. The Bulldogs’ Robert Edwards had
By Mike Luck
Dec 1, 2017

There’s been a lot of wild games in the Georgia-Auburn series. But the 1996 game may never be topped. Four overtimes, 105 points, 21-point comebacks, 1,095 yards of offense -- and it is the only game in the series that included a dog trying to bite a player.

The Bulldogs upset the Tigers 56-49. In the first quarter, Georgia’s mascot UGA V lunged at an Auburn player who’d just scored a touchdown.

The schools meet again Saturday in the SEC Championship Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart played in the 1996 game.

Click on the video above to look back at the memorable game 21 years ago.

Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs are getting ready to play the Auburn Tigers Saturday afternoon in Atlanta

About the Author

Mike Luck is an Audience Specialist on the sports team at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He has worked at the AJC since 1980.

More Stories

Keep Reading

ajc.com

Credit: ajc

The Win Column: Rivalry and revulsion — rejuvenated

Staff picks, X-factors and a multisport leaderboard.

To grow athletic funds in NIL era, Georgia Southern gets creative — and country

Georgia Southern is hosting county music concerts and other special events to bolster its pot of player compensation funds and to attract and expand donors.

UAB pushes ahead after 2 players stabbed hours before kickoff

The Blazers, coached by Atlanta's Alex Mortensen, opted to go ahead with their game against South Florida just hours after a stabbing incident at the team's football facility.

The Latest

General view as the Atlanta Hawks host the San Antonio at State Farm Arena, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Atlanta. The Spurs won 126-125. (Jason Getz / AJC)

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com

Atlanta TV sports listings

The Win Column: Rivalry and revulsion — rejuvenated

To grow athletic funds in NIL era, Georgia Southern gets creative — and country

Featured

Atlanta art and antiques appraiser and auctioneer Allan Baitcher (right) takes bids during a 2020 auction. Baitcher and his company, Peachtree Antiques, are being sued by a Florida multimillionaire who says he paid them $20 million for fakes. (AJC 2020)

Credit: Phil Skinner / Staff

Atlanta antique appraiser made $20M selling fakes, lawsuit says

An Atlanta art and antique appraiser is being sued by a Florida multimillionaire, who says he spent about $20 million on thousands of fake works.

How an ex-Texan and a university helped change the face of a Georgia city

Mercer University President Bill Underwood is stepping down after two decades at the helm. He's credited with boosting enrollment, resurrecting football and reshaping Macon.

Thanksgiving to bring chilly, dry, overall delightful weather to metro Atlanta

A big drop in temperatures is coming overnight Wednesday, so go ahead and pull out those flannels and blankets.