AU’s win over No. 1 Florida was best game

By Chris Sweigart

Published: July 24, 2007

Attending 98-consecutive football games at Jordan-Hare Stadium with ambitions of ending the streak at 100, I’ve comprised a list of the best games I’ve seen since the streak began in 1992. Choosing the five-best was tough as some great games failed to crack the list. Here’s my top five:

1. Auburn 23, Florida 20 (2001): I’ve never seen Jordan Hare Stadium more electric. You’ve got a big underdog hanging with the No. 1 team in America, a third-string running back giving Auburn a go-ahead touchdown early in the fourth quarter, teams see-sawing the lead, and a game-winning kick in the swirling wind. Good stuff.

2. Auburn 7, LSU 3 (2006): That was one heck of a slugfest. Wonder if some players are still bruised from it.

3. Auburn 37, Syracuse 34 (2002): This one took three overtimes to finish and lasted beyond midnight. Auburn overcame a 17-point deficit and used a 200-yard rushing performance from Carnell Williams to win.

4. Auburn 18, Alabama 17 (1997): You’ve got the Iron Bowl and a critical turnover that leads to the game-winning field goal. Great game.

5. Georgia 56, Auburn 49 (1996): This may forever be the highest-scoring game in Auburn history. It should be because it took four overtimes to settle.

Best of the rest: Auburn 38, Florida 35 (1993); Auburn 30, LSU 26 (1994); Georgia 26, Auburn 26 (1994); Auburn 22, Alabama 14 (1993); Auburn 31, Alabama 27 (1995); Auburn 28, Northeast Louisiana 24 (1996); Ole Miss 24, Auburn 20 (2003); Auburn 10, LSU 9 (2004); Auburn 23, Georgia 20 (2000).
Lots of great Georgia games, huh?

Next week: Auburn’s five-most memorable victories during the streak.