The Miracle Finish: Recounting the ‘Prayer at Jordan-Hare’

The 2013 matchup between No. 7 Auburn and No. 25 Georgia on November 16 was not just another Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry game; it became a defining moment in college football history known simply as the “Prayer at Jordan-Hare.” The game’s historic significance rests on its breathtaking, improbable final minute, which captured the unpredictable magic of the sport.

The contest was a seesaw battle, climaxing in a frantic fourth quarter. Georgia, staging a stunning comeback, scored three consecutive touchdowns to take a seemingly insurmountable 38-37 lead with less than two minutes remaining.

With just 36 seconds left, Auburn was backed up on its own 27-yard line, facing a desperate fourth-and-18. Quarterback Nick Marshall took the snap and unleashed a high, arcing pass deep downfield toward receiver Ricardo Louis. The ball, thrown well short of Louis, was tipped by Georgia defensive back Tray Matthews and hung in the air momentarily—a seeming interception or incomplete pass that would seal an Auburn loss.

But in a moment of sheer fortune, the tipped ball fell directly into the hands of a diving Louis at the Georgia 25-yard line. He scampered the rest of the way untouched for the game-winning touchdown. Jordan-Hare Stadium erupted in stunned disbelief and elation.

This play was historically significant for two key reasons. First, it kept Auburn’s dream season alive, paving the way for the later, equally historic “Kick Six” victory over Alabama and a trip to the BCS National Championship Game. Second, it instantly joined the pantheon of college football miracle plays, demonstrating the thin line between defeat and destiny in the sport’s most heated rivalries. The play’s reliance on a tip—a pure stroke of luck—is why it remains one of the most talked-about, unbelievable finishes ever witnessed in the SEC.