Auburn football was one of the few teams that gave Kirby Smart and the then-two-time defending champion Georgia Bulldogs a scare during last year's regular season.
Early in the season, the No. 4 Bulldogs fell behind 10-0 in the first quarter and needed a Brock Bowers 40-yard receiving touchdown with 2:52 remaining to avoid the shocking upset from first-year head coach Hugh Freeze and the Tigers. Auburn finished its first year under Freeze at 6-7 following three straight losses, including to New Mexico State.
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However, as the Tigers enter Year 2 under Freeze, Smart was sure to give Jordan-Hare Stadium ― Auburn's home ― flowers as a tough place to play away football games at Tuesday's SEC Media Days appearance.
"Auburn is one of the hardest places to play in the world," Smart said of playing at Jordan-Hare Stadium. "When you step in that stadium, you better be laced up, strapped up and ready to go."
Kirby Smart vs. Auburn football
Of all people, Smart has plenty of experience when it comes to Auburn football. Smart ― born in Montgomery, about 56 miles from Auburn ― was an assistant under Nick Saban from 2007 to 2015 before taking over at Georgia ahead of the 2016 season.
Smart has played no team more than the Tigers during his time as head coach of the Bulldogs. He is 8-1 against the Tigers, and his lone loss was a 40-17 defeat in 2017 in Auburn. Two of the three wins at Jordan-Hare have been by a touchdown at Auburn.
Auburn will not host Georgia this year but have home dates against Alabama A&M, California, New Mexico, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Vanderbilt, Louisiana-Monroe, and Texas A&M. The Tigers and Bulldogs will play on October 5 in Georgia. It will actually be UGA's homecoming game.
“I had no idea that that was even the case," Smart said of the homecoming game.
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