Georgia vs. Auburn score, takeaways: Bulldogs bounce back, surge late to pull away from Tigers in rivalry

The Deep South's Oldest Rivalry was a nail-biter early into the second half before the Bulldogs distanced themselves

No. 5 Georgia used a timely procession of explosive plays to build an edge that it maintained with the help a strong defensive effort during a 31-13 win over Auburn on Saturday. But the final score was not indicative of how tense the 130th edition of the Deep South's Oldest Rivalry was early in the second half.

Auburn's Jarquez Hunter rattled off a 38-yard touchdown run at the 9:45 mark of the third quarter to bring the Tigers (2-4, 0-3 SEC) within 14-10. That's when the Bulldogs (4-1, 2-1) really started barking. A week after committing four turnovers in a loss to Alabama, UGA quarterback Carson Beck responded with a surgically efficient performance.

Beck's 27-yard strike to Colbie Young down the sideline on a third-and-6 play extended Georgia's first drive after Hunter's touchdown run and set the stage for the Bulldogs to reclaim a two-possession lead. Big plays on third downs were a theme for UGA. Beck found tight end Lawson Luckie for a 33-yard pickup on a third-and-3 play during the Bulldogs' first scoring drive.

On Georgia's second touchdown drive late in the second quarter, it was a 23-yard run from Trevor Etienne on a third-and-1 that knocked Auburn on its heels. Etienne finished with 88 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 16 attempts. Freshman back Nate Frazier added 38 yards on seven carries in a reserve role as the Bulldogs did a fair job of finding offensive balance.

To its credit, Auburn avoided the self-inflicted wounds that haunted it in September. The Tigers did not commit a turnover, but they also did not force any and were forced to settle for field goals on both their trips to the red zone. 

• Georgia extended its FBS-best home winning streak to 27 games
• The Bulldogs have won eight games in a row vs. Auburn
• Georgia now leads the all-time series 64-56-8
• Auburn has dropped 15 straight road games vs. AP top-5 opponents.

CBS Sports was here with live updates, highlights and analysis from Georgia vs. Auburn on Saturday. Be sure to read on below for takeaways from the game. 

[Oct 5, 2024 at 7:31 pm ET · David Cobb]

Auburn in bleak condition

Tigers reeling under Freeze

Final: Georgia 31, Auburn 13 -- Auburn is now 0-3 in league play for the second consecutive season under second-year coach Hugh Freeze, and the schedule is not lightening up anytime soon. The Tigers must play at Missouri and at Kentucky to close out October. November includes games against Texas A&M and Alabama. Even a Nov. 2 game with Vanderbilt no longer looks like an easy win considering how strong the Commodores have looked. While a Nov. 16 game with UL-Monroe should be a victory, the Tigers likely thought the same when they hosted New Mexico State last November and lost 31-10. There are simply no guarantees for this team with the way they are playing. Auburn salvaged a bowl bid last season following its poor start to conference play. Doing so again this season will likely require the Tigers to pull at least a couple of upsets. A 4-8 record is quite possible, and 3-9 appears to be firmly within the realm of possibility as well.

[Oct 5, 2024 at 7:25 pm ET · David Cobb]

London Humphreys flashes potential

Vanderbilt transfer returns and makes a couple plays

Final: Georgia 31, Auburn 13

After an encouraging freshman season at Vanderbilt in which he made 22 receptions for 439 yards and four touchdowns, Georgia receiver London Humphreys entered this season with lofty expectations as an in-conference transfer. But after making two grabs for 63 yards and a touchdown against Clemson in a Week 1 victory, he went quiet. Last week, he was unavailable for the Alabama loss due to illness. Against Auburn, he finally reappeared with a bang, making two catches for 40 yards. Both came in the fourth quarter, and one of them was a 25-yard snag on a critical third-and-10 play. The Bulldogs are still searching for consistent playmaking from their receivers, and Humphreys finally offered another flash of how he may fit into that equation.

[Oct 5, 2024 at 7:18 pm ET · David Cobb]

Carson Beck shines

Georgia quarterback rebounds from Bama blunders

Final: Georgia 31, Auburn 13

It was a reassuring performance for Georgia quarterback Carson Beck, who threw three interceptions and committed a costly fumble in last week's loss to Alabama. At no point against Auburn did he fire consecutive incompletions as he distributed the football to nine different different players. Beck finished 23 of 29 passing for 240 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. With games against top-15 foes Texas, Ole Miss and Tennessee still ahead, Beck needed to take command of the offense again. He did it against Auburn.

[Oct 5, 2024 at 7:10 pm ET · David Cobb]

Georgia gets back on track

Final:  Georgia 31, Auburn 13

No. 5 Georgia used a timely procession of explosive plays to build an edge that it maintained with the help a strong defensive effort during a 31-13 win over Auburn on Saturday. But the final score was not indicative of how tense the 130th edition of the Deep South's Oldest Rivalry was early in the second half.

Auburn's Jarquez Hunter rattled off a 38-yard touchdown run at the 9:45 mark of the third quarter to bring the Tigers (2-4, 0-3 SEC) within 14-10. That's when the Bulldogs (4-1, 2-1) really started barking. A week after committing four turnovers in a loss to Alabama, UGA quarterback Carson Beck responded with a surgically efficient performance.

Beck's 27-yard strike to Colbie Young down the sideline on a third-and-6 play extended  Georgia's first drive after Hunter's touchdown run and set the stage for the Bulldogs to reclaim a two-possession lead. Big plays on third downs were a theme for UGA. Beck found tight end Lawson Luckie for a 33-yard pickup on a third-and-3 play during the Bulldogs' first scoring drive.

On Georgia's second touchdown drive late in the second quarter, it was a 23-yard run from Trevor Etienne on a third-and-1 that knocked Auburn on its heels. Etienne finished with 88 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 16 attempts. Freshman back Nate Frazier added 38 yards on seven carries in a reserve role as the Bulldogs did a fair job of finding offensive balance.

To its credit, Auburn avoided the self-inflicted wounds which haunted it in September. The Tigers did not commit a turnover, but they also did not force any and were forced to settle for field goals on both their trips to the red zone. 

• Georgia extended its FBS-best home winning streak to 27 games
• The Bulldogs have won eight games in a row vs. Auburn
• Georgia now leads the all-time series 64-56-8
• Auburn has dropped 15 straight road games vs. AP top-5 opponents.

[Oct 5, 2024 at 6:55 pm ET · David Cobb]

Eating some clock

Georgia was able to eat a nice chunk of the fourth quarter clock, picking up a couple of first downs on its way to Alabama territory. From there, Peyton Woodring put it out of reach. He nailed a 47-yard attempt to put a dagger in Auburn. The score is now 31-13. The Bulldogs have been excellent in special teams. 

[Oct 5, 2024 at 6:42 pm ET · David Cobb]

Two possession game

Georgia's defense stood tall in the red zone, forcing Auburn to settle for a 26-yard field goal. That 12-play, 67-yard drive took 4:51 off the clock, leaving Auburn in a bit of a dire situation down 28-13 with just 7:38 remaining. Hugh Freeze went to the run on first and second down, but there was nothing there. He didn't seem to be in a particular hurry, despite the fact that his team needs to get the football back twice to have a chance.

[Oct 5, 2024 at 6:37 pm ET · David Cobb]

Not targeting

A lengthy review determined that there was no targeting on Georgia's Chaz Chambliss. That's a good break for the Bulldogs, who are already operating without star linebacker Smael Mondon, who is out today and for the foreseeable future with an ankle injury.

[Oct 5, 2024 at 6:21 pm ET · David Cobb]

The Dawgs are barking

Carson Beck just hit Dillon Bell over the middle for a 3-yard touchdown to make it 28-10. That was Georgia's first scoring drive in this game that didn't require at least one third-down conversion as the Dawgs went 40 yards on five plays. Carson Beck is now 20 of 24 for 192 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions.

[Oct 5, 2024 at 6:19 pm ET · David Cobb]

Big TFL for UGA

Raylen Wilson wrestled Payton Thorne to the turf for a loss four yards on a critical fourth-and-1 play to open the fourth quarter. The Tigers needed that one. Instead, the Bulldogs took over in great field position while leading 21-10. The Georgia defense hasn't been elite -- giving up 6 yards per play -- but it's getting the job done even in the absence of Auburn turnovers.

[Oct 5, 2024 at 6:13 pm ET · David Cobb]

Killing them on third downs

Georgia enters the fourth quarter leading 21-10, thanks in large part to explosive plays generated on third downs that extended drives and set up touchdowns. 

First TD drive: 33-yard pass to Luckie Lawson (third-and-3)

Second TD drive: 23-yard run by Trevor Etienne (third-and-1)

Third TD drive: 27-yard pass to Colbie Young (third-and-6)

[Oct 5, 2024 at 6:05 pm ET · David Cobb]

Costly penalty

Auburn was whistled for an illegal block in the back during an already unsuccessful kick return. That called backed the Tigers up on their own 5-yard line. Going 95 yards on the road against this Georgia defense is a tall ask. Of note: the Tigers haven't turned the football over yet, which marks considerable progress.

[Oct 5, 2024 at 5:57 pm ET · David Cobb]

Getting explosive 

Georgia faced a third-and-6 at midfield, and that's when Carson Beck hit Colbie Young for a 27-yard completion down the left sideline. It was a really nice catch by Young. Then, on the next play, Trevor Etienne rattled off a 21-yard run to get the Bulldogs to Auburn's 2-yard line. That was quite a 1-2 punch for UGA's offense after a sluggish start to the drive. Trevor Etienne finished it off with a 1-yard touchdown run for his second score of the day.

[Oct 5, 2024 at 5:45 pm ET · David Cobb]

Jarquez Hunter to the house

3Q: Georgia 14, Auburn 10

Jarquez Hunter just torched Georgia on the edge for a 38-yard touchdown run. The Tigers did not attempt a single pass on that drive. It was all runs from Hunter and Thorne as Auburn cut its deficit back to one possession. The 38-yard scamper was Auburn's longest run of the season.

[Oct 5, 2024 at 5:42 pm ET · David Cobb]

Auburn on the move

Auburn's defense forced a critical three-and-out to open the second half, and Auburn is now driving with a heavy dose of QB runs from Payton Thorne. Georgia's defense is getting pressure on a regular basis, but Thorne is starting to look comfortable in scramble mode.

[Oct 5, 2024 at 5:29 pm ET · David Cobb]

Kirby Smart thinks UGA can run better

Georgia coach Kirby Smart told ESPN at halftime that, "I feel like we can run the ball better than we are." Trevor Etienne has nine rushes for 54 yards, and his 23-yarder on UGA's late touchdown drive in the second quarter was a big help in getting the Bulldogs to the end zone. But on a down-to-down basis, it's been inconsistent again for the Dawgs.

[Oct 5, 2024 at 5:15 pm ET · David Cobb]

Georgia in command

Half: Georgia 14, Auburn 3

No. 5 Georgia holds a 14-3 halftime lead on Auburn in the Deep South's Oldest Rivalry behind a late touchdown pass from Carson Beck to Dominic Lovett. The two connected with 17 seconds left in the second quarter as the Bulldogs gained some separation at the conclusion of a tightly contested half. 

Georgia running back Trevor Etienne scored the first touchdown at the 6:24 mark of the first quarter, when he plunged in from one yard out to cap an 11-play, 75-yard scoring drive. Auburn responded with a long drive of its own but settled for a 27-yard field goal. 

The true stars of the first half were defensive players, though. Auburn defensive lineman Keldric Faulk notched two sacks on pivotal Georgia third-down plays, while Georgia's Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins countered with two sacks of his own.

[Oct 5, 2024 at 5:08 pm ET · David Cobb]

Lucky break for Georgia

Georgia 14, Auburn 3

It was unclear who Carson Beck was targeting, but he nevertheless connected with Dominic Lovett for an 11-yard touchdown pass with 17 seconds left in the second quarter. The ball first traveled by Dillon Bell's hands as he ran an underneath route. But Lovett was there to make the grab and work his way into the end zone.

[Oct 5, 2024 at 4:59 pm ET · David Cobb]

Pinned deep

Pinned deep in its own territory in a two-minute drill situation, Auburn couldn't get out from the shadow of its own goalpost. Thorne took a shot directed at Cam Coleman down the field. But it sailed over Coleman's head. With Georgia getting the football to start the third quarter in a game with minimal possessions, the Bulldogs' final possession of the half here will be critical.

[Oct 5, 2024 at 4:45 pm ET · David Cobb]

Keldric Faulk flexing

Keldric Faulk picked up his second sack of the first half to put Georgia in a fourth-and-13 on the Auburn 38-yard line. With Jared Wilson and Tate Ratledge out, Georgia's offensive line is not operating at 100%, and Faulk has taken advantage.

[Oct 5, 2024 at 4:34 pm ET · David Cobb]

Auburn miscue

Auburn faced a third-and-3 near midfield before a false start set the Tigers back into a third-and-8. Thorne subsequently completed a 4-yard pass and the Tigers were forced to punt. Turning a third-and-3 into a third-and-8 is the type of thing you can't do against Georgia. The Bulldogs lead 7-3 and get the football to start the third quarter. Big possession here for Auburn's defense midway through the third quarter.

[Oct 5, 2024 at 4:27 pm ET · David Cobb]

Beck gets sacked

 Keldric Faulk wrestled Carson Beck down for huge sack on third-and-4 with the Bulldogs in Auburn territory. Facing a fourth-and-16, Kirby Smart opted to punt. Huge play from the Tigers defense there to get off the field after allowing a touchdown on Georgia's first drive.

[Oct 5, 2024 at 4:24 pm ET · David Cobb]

Dawgs up after 1

End 1Q: Georgia 7, Auburn 3

— Neither teams operated with much pace in the first quarter

— Both teams have OL questions to answer after Auburn allowed two sacks

— Georgia is starting a backup Drew Bobo at center and hasn't established the run yet

[Oct 5, 2024 at 4:18 pm ET · David Cobb]

Auburn responds

Payton Thorne found KeAndre Lambert-SMith for a 23-yard gain on third-and-5 to jumpstart an Auburn scoring drive. The Tigers entered the red zone after Jarquez Hunter's 19-yard run. But the Bulldogs buckled down from there to force the 27-yard kick from Towns McGough. That was a good response from the Tigers' offense.

[Oct 5, 2024 at 4:11 pm ET · David Cobb]

Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins feasting

Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins had one sack on the season entering the game and two for his career. Less than one quarter in against Auburn, the Georgia defensive lineman has two in this game. It has been a rough start for Auburn's offensive line

[Oct 5, 2024 at 4:03 pm ET · David Cobb]

Georgia still airing it out

Trevor Etienne finished off the drive with a 2-yard touchdown, but Georgia went heavy on the pass again during its first possession. Carson Beck completed 6 of 7 attempts for 60 yards, finding Lawson Luckie for a 33-yard gain on a third-and-2 play. The Dawgs also converted a third-and-5 early in the series via a Beck pass to Dillon Bell.

[Oct 5, 2024 at 3:58 pm ET · David Cobb]

Drew Bobo at center

Drew Bobo, the son of Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo, is starting at center for the Bulldogs. He is playing in place of Jared Wilson, who left late during last week's loss at Alabama with an injury. Wilson did go through warmups, but he was spotted working with the second-team offense while Bobo worked with the 1s.

[Oct 5, 2024 at 3:56 pm ET · David Cobb]

Conservative to start

It was a disastrous start for Auburn as Ty Ingram-Dawkins sacked Payton Thorne for a loss of five on the game's first play. The Tigers went conservative but were able to pick up a first down via a screen on third-and-long. Even from there, the Tigers kept it conservative and moved no further. That was a good start for UGA's defense.

[Oct 5, 2024 at 3:28 pm ET · David Cobb]

Georgia vs. Auburn prediction

Auburn is coming off consecutive home losses against mid-tier SEC teams and now must hit the road with a 2-3 record to play against an angry Georgia squad. The Bulldogs rallied from a 30-7 deficit at Alabama last week, only to lose in heartbreaking fashion. At home for just the second time this season and pitted against a historic rival, look for Georgia to open up with the same intensity it displayed in the second half against the Crimson Tide and cover this sizable spread. Pick: Georgia -24.5

Georgia vs. Auburn live stream, where to watch, TV channel, prediction, pick, spread, football game odds

David Cobb

[Oct 5, 2024 at 3:10 pm ET · David Cobb]

Georgia's issues

Georgia had its own issues with turnovers in its loss at Alabama last week as star quarterback Carson Beck threw three interceptions and coughed up a costly fumble. It was an uncharacteristically shaky performance for Beck, who had previously never thrown more than one pick in a game. While Beck deserves some of the flack, his gaffes were also the byproduct of Georgia's other problems. Facing a significant early deficit because of their defense's inability to slow down Alabama, the Bulldogs largely abandoned the traditional run game and were forced to air it out. A better defensive effort would have allowed Georgia to take a more balanced approach. But even in less-adverse circumstances, the Bulldogs struggled offensively against Kentucky. It may not take an A-plus offensive effort to beat Auburn, but Georgia needs to find an offensive flow soon with games against Texas, No. 12 Ole Miss and No. 4 Tennessee still to come.

[Oct 5, 2024 at 2:52 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

Auburn recruiting juice

Auburn is struggling on the field, but second-year coach Hugh Freeze is doing well in recruiting. Four-star quarterback Deuce Knight flipped his commitment from Notre Dame to Auburn on Wednesday. The move came after weeks of speculation that the No. 34 overall player in the 2025 recruiting cycle would back off the original pledge he made last September. With Knight's commitment, Auburn jumped LSU for the No. 3 recruiting class in the 2025 cycle, according to 247Sports.

Elite QB Deuce Knight flips commitment from Notre Dame to Auburn, giving Tigers much-needed recruiting win

Cameron Salerno