Series history: The Deep South's Oldest Rivalry

The Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry returns to Jordan Hare Stadium Saturday.

It’s been rather one-sided over the last two decades, with Georgia winning 17 of the last 20 meetings against Auburn.

Overall, the series belongs to Georgia 65-56-8. The Bulldogs can match their longest win streak in the series at nine with a victory this weekend. Auburn looks to end that streak and defeat Georgia for the first time since 2017.

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The Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry begins

This series isn’t just known for its longevity, but also for the origins of one of Auburn’s signature traditions.

In the first meeting between Auburn and Georgia in 1892, the Tigers won 10-0 in Atlanta. It was in the middle of that game that an eagle flew over the field, beginning the “War Eagle” chants.

Auburn University provides the full story:

According to witnesses, the eagle suddenly broke free and began majestically circling the playing field. As the eagle soared, Auburn began a steady march toward the Georgia end zone for a thrilling victory. Elated at their team’s play and taking the bird’s presence as an omen of success, Auburn students and fans began to yell “War Eagle” to spur on their team. At the game’s end, the eagle took a sudden dive, crashed into the ground, and died.

Georgia wins nine straight

Georgia dominated the series from 1923-1931, winning all nine games by a combined score 184-22. Auburn failed to score in five of those meetings — 1923, 1924, 1925, 1928 and 1929.

If the No. 10 Bulldogs win Saturday, it will match that win streak, which remains the longest from either team in the series.

Various locations host the rivalry

This is a rivalry game that’s bounced around both the state of Alabama and state of Georgia.

The first 10 games of the rivalry were played in Atlanta, before it shifted to Macon for several seasons. It then spent some time bouncing around in Montgomery, Savannah and Athens before finding a home in Columbus.

From 1916 until 1958, the rivalry game played out in AJ McClung Memorial Stadium in Columbus, excluding the 1929 and 1949 matchups — both were played in Athens.

Then in 1959, the game permanently moved to each school’s respective campus. Auburn first hosted Georgia on The Plains in 1960, a 9-6 win for Auburn.

Notable moments

Since the rivalry moved to campuses, there’s been all sorts of unforgettable moments.

Who could forget when Georgia fans were hosed off the field at Jordan Hare Stadium in 1986? Or when Uga tried to bite Auburn wide receiver Robert Baker in 1996? What about the late-game heroics by Auburn in 2005?

And of course, the well-remembered Prayer at Jordan Hare in 2013, where Ricardo Louis caught a touchdown pass off the deflection of two Georgia players on 4th-and-18 late in the game.

In recent years, Auburn annihilated No. 1 Georgia 40-17 in 2017 on its way to winning the SEC West. Georgia returned the favor weeks later in the SEC Championship, ending Auburn’s playoff hopes.

The Bulldogs’ 2017 SEC Championship victory sparked the first of what’s now eight wins in a row. Can Auburn end it Saturday with an upset? The Tigers have been within one possession of an upset in two of the last three games against Georgia in Jordan Hare Stadium.

Kickoff of the 130th edition of the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry kicks off at 6:30 p.m. CST.