Alex McPherson kicks 34-yard field goal as time expires to lift Auburn over No. 1 Georgia 27-24

Athens, Ga. (AP) — Gunner Stockton's final fumble with under a minute left proved costly for Georgia's 27-24 defeat to Auburn. It was a game Stockton would rather forget. Stockton suffered multiple setbacks throughout the match. After colliding with the turf helmet-first on the opening play, he spent a play on the ground, triggering a medical timeout.

This unfortunate incident set the tone for a challenging day. Despite starting the season strongly with 14 touchdowns and just two interceptions in six wins, Stockton lost ball security against Auburn. He explained that Auburn's strong play and their ability to execute better were key reasons for his struggles. Stockton insisted he did not have any lingering effects from his painful first play.

After being checked for a shoulder injury and cleared, Stockton returned to the game. Auburn's defensive tackle, Cody Sigler, was responsible for forcing Stockton's fumble, which led to Auburn's winning field goal by Alex McPherson with time expiring. Georgia's coach, Kirby Smart, acknowledged the fumble as a significant factor in the loss, saying, "We have a saying 'Dogs don't beat the dogs' and tonight the dogs beat the dogs."

Stockton emphasized the importance of learning from the experience and responded positively to the setback, stating, "It's all about how you respond and get better. You've got to attack it. Definitely got to attack the bye week." He concluded, "A one-loss team can still do really good things."