AUBURN, Ala. – The first segment of Amen Corner – the term former Auburn coach Pat Dye used to describe Auburn's traditional rivalry games – arrives unusually early this season.
Next Game:
at Georgia
10/03/2020
6:30 PM
TV: ESPN
Radio: Auburn Sports Network
No. 7 Auburn plays at No. 4 Georgia Saturday at 6:30 p.m. CT on ESPN in the Deep South's Oldest Rivalry, a matchup that was last played in October in 1936.
"This year is so unique," Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said. "It feels exactly as it would in November. We know how important it is. This game usually has a direct effect on the East and the West. It doesn't matter if we're playing today or in November or in March."
From Auburn legends like Takeo Spikes, Cam Newton and Derrick Brown to current standouts Owen Pappoe, Big Kat Bryant, Zakoby McClain and many others, numerous high school stars in Georgia have headed west to the Plains for college football.
"We recruit the state; I think a third of our team is from the state of Georgia," Malzahn said. "You can look at it since I've been at Auburn, it's always been very, very important and the winner's usually gone on to do really well. It's a big one."
ESPN College Gameday will orginate from Athens, Georgia, Satuday from 8-11 a.m. CT, with the network's lead announcing team of Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit and Allison Williams calling the action that evening.
Andy Burcham, Stan White and Ronnie Brown will have the radio call, with the Auburn Sports Network pregame show beginning at 3:30 p.m. CT with Paul Ellen, Jason Campbell and Brad Law joining the crew on 93.9 Tiger FM and on Sirius/XM Channel 133. Fans can also listen online at AuburnTigers.com and on the TuneIn app.THREE QUESTIONS WITH… dl big kat bryant
One more addition to our @AuburnEquip truck before it hits the road. pic.twitter.com/lapGeRe2V9
— Auburn Football (@AuburnFootball) October 1, 2020
Q: Is it any different this year getting prepared for Georgia in Week Two versus later in the season?
A: We could play them Week One, Week Nine, it doesn't matter. It just makes the game more exciting. When you jump out playing teams like Kentucky and Georgia, and you do well, it gives you instant credibility. I'm looking forward to games like this.
Q: Being from Georgia, does this game mean more to you?
A: It would definitely feel good to go over there and beat them in Georgia. If we could pull this out, I definitely would have something to talk about. There are a lot of guys on the other team I know personally. It's a rivalry and both sides know that. They're going to bring their best and we're going to bring our best.
Q: What was it that made you chose to attend Auburn over Georgia?
A: Coach G (associate head coach Rodney Garner). My persspecitve was, do I want to go to Georgia and be a guy, or go to Auburn and be the guy? That's why I came here.INSIDE THE SERIES: georgia
Gameday Program
This will be the 125th meeting in the Deep South's Oldest Rivalary, which began in 1892. Georgia leads the series 60-56-8. Auburn owns a winning record in Athens (18-15) while Georgia has a winning mark on the Plains (17-12-2). Auburn's most recent series win came in 2017, when the Tigers defeated the top-ranked Bulldogs 40-17 before knocking off No. 1 Alabama 26-14 two weeks later.
Series: Georgia leads 60-56-8
At Auburn: Georgia leads 17-12-2
At Georgia: Auburn leads 18-15
Most AU points: 49 (2010 and 1996 – 4 overtimes)
This is the earliest meeting during the season since the very first game between the schools in 1892 (played February 20) and will be only the sixth time the matchup has been played in October; the last was in 1936 (October 24).
The Auburn-Georgia series is tied for the second-most played current FBS series entering this season [Minnesota-Wisconsin 129, Cincinnati-Miami, Ohio 124, North Carolina-Virginia 124]. The series is older than the Georgia-Georgia Tech (112 games) and the Auburn-Alabama series (84 games). Auburn and Georgia first met in 1892 at Atlanta's Piedmont Park; each first played its instate rival in 1893
IN OCTOBERAuburn is 314-164-18 (.651) all-time in October. Auburn's October home record is 172-35-3 (.828). Away from Auburn, the Tigers are 142-129-15 (.520) in October.
Auburn is 17-8 in October under Gus Malzahn. Auburn is 12-3-1 on October 3 all-time, and 4-2-1 against SEC teams on that date.1892 DEBUT
The Auburn-Georgia series is tied for the second-most played current FBS series entering this season [Minnesota-Wisconsin 129, Cincinnati-Miami, Ohio 124, North Carolina-Virginia 124]. The series is older than the Georgia-Georgia Tech (112 games) and the Auburn-Alabama series (84 games). Auburn and Georgia first met in 1892 at Atlanta's Piedmont Park; each first played its instate rival in 1893.
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer