ATHENS ― Auburn coach Gus Malzahn had just wrapped up an on-field interview with CBS after his team routed Georgia, when he turned to someone off camera and made a crack.

“We whipped the dog crap out of them, didn’t we?” Malzahn said, according to video posted on SEC Country.

Auburn did indeed beat Georgia by a wide margin, 40-17, providing a reality check to the formerly No. 1-ranked Bulldogs.

Georgia coach Kirby Smart was asked to respond to the comment at his news conference on Monday.

“I’ll be honest with you, I think when you perform the way they did on the field, you earn the right to say really whatever you want,” Smart said. “I don’t get into what Gus says, and he probably doesn’t get into what I say.”

Georgia and Auburn could meet again in the SEC Championship Game on Dec. 2. Georgia already has clinched a spot by winning the SEC East. Auburn needs to beat Alabama on Nov. 25 to win the SEC West.