Tulane football fans may never view Thanksgiving the same way again. The No. 17 Green Wave entered the holiday with a real opportunity to surpass the Big 12 Conference champion and secure a spot in the expanded playoff field. However, following their 34-24 home loss to the Memphis Tigers, their chances for consideration are now gone.
Three turnovers and a shaky defense derailed Tulane’s promising season, leading many on social media to label the team as “frauds” on their home turf.
“Alright, we can stop pretending the freaking AAC should be in the playoff conversation,” one user tweeted passionately on X. “When I voiced my concerns, Tulane fans were insisting they could win games in the Big 12—save me the nonsense.”
This unexpected defeat now paves the way for another Group of Five program to potentially make it into the 12-team College Football Playoff. As Unnecessary Roughness noted, “Memphis sends Tulane packing, and the MWC Title Game {Boise State vs. UNLV} might just turn into a CFB Playoff play-in match.”
Tulane football blew opportunities to get back in the game
Freshman quarterback Darian Mensah threw for over 300 yards and two touchdowns in the game, but he also tossed an interception that contributed to a Memphis touchdown in the fourth quarter. Wide receiver Yulkieth Brown had a costly fumble deep in Tigers territory during the third quarter, preventing the Green Wave from equalizing. He recorded 93 receiving yards, which ranked second to star Marlo Williams’ 130 yards, but the team still struggled to keep pace with Memphis in the second half.
Despite the offensive errors, the defense could have put up a better fight against the Tigers’ top player. Marlo Anderson Jr. rushed for 177 yards and scored his 18th rushing touchdown of the season, effectively sealing the game and Tulane’s chances of making the College Football Playoff. Jon Sumrall’s squad now serves as a warning to any fan base that might be too comfortable.
“Let this Tulane result be a cautionary tale,” one fan remarked. “The CFP discussions are exciting, but there’s still a long way to go.” In the coming weeks, other teams are likely to see their playoff aspirations come to a similar end. The Green Wave’s notable setback at Yulman Stadium in New Orleans may be a sign of the impending turmoil ahead.
Tulane football can’t afford to dwell on past disappointments; they need to stay focused on their upcoming challenges.
Head coach Jon Sumrall still has the chance to guide his team toward a conference title. While the Green Wave may not dominate the Big 12 or the rest of the nation, the 2024 season can still end on a high note. They will face Army in the American Athletic Conference Championship game at a yet-to-be-announced location on Friday, Dec. 6.
If Tulane can claim its second league title in three years and achieve double-digit wins for the third consecutive season, fans will have plenty to celebrate in Sumrall’s inaugural year as head coach. This humbling experience could serve as the motivation the team didn’t realize it needed. The locker room won’t soon forget the feeling from Nov. 28, 2024.
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