Tulane Punches Its Ticket to the Big Dance

Well, folks, break out the good china and start practicing your “Roll Wave” chant. Tulane can officially start booking flights for the College Football Playoff. The No. 20 Green Wave just dismantled No. 24 North Texas 34-21 to snag the American Conference crown, and let me tell you, it was a game that had everything but a halftime show featuring a marching band of circus clowns.

Let’s be clear from the jump: Tulane was the better team. That’s not up for debate. They came in, handled their business, and walked out with the hardware. But to say they didn’t get a little wink-and-a-nod from the zebras would be like saying Bear Bryant was just a decent coach. The officials might as well have been wearing Tulane green.

Questionable Calls and Gridiron Gaffes

It felt like the football gods had a pre-game huddle and decided, “You know what? Tonight, we’re making it tough for North Texas.” The chaos really ramped up just before halftime. With a 17-7 lead, Tulane punted. As the ball spiraled down, Tulane’s own Landon Sides, back to receive, got absolutely trucked by a teammate. The ball then ricocheted off the back of a North Texas player, and Tulane recovered. No flag.

Not a single piece of yellow laundry on the field for what looked like a textbook kick-catch interference. A few plays later, quarterback Jake Retzlaff sneaks it in for a touchdown as time expires, putting Tulane up by a comfortable 17 points. Even that score looked as questionable as a two-dollar steak.

The second half started with even more head-scratching moments. North Texas had a golden opportunity to climb back into the game after Tulane missed a field goal. But, in what can only be described as a moment of pure, unadulterated football misfortune, Drew Mestemaker’s pass was tipped, picked off by Chris Rodgers, and returned for what was called a 35-yard touchdown. The problem?

Replays showed Mestemaker making contact and Rodgers fumbling the ball just before he crossed the goal line. It looked like the ball went out of the back of the end zone, which should have been a touchback. Yet, after review, the call on the field stood. Touchdown, Tulane. You could almost hear the collective groan from Denton all the way in New Orleans. It was the kind of call that makes you want to throw your remote through the TV.

A Night of “What Ifs” for the Mean Green

Bad calls aside, North Texas looked like a team playing with one hand tied behind its back. They turned the ball over four times and, to make matters worse, lost their superstar running back, Caleb Hawkins, early in the game to what looked like a shoulder injury. This is the guy who came into the game with over 1,500 yards and 26 touchdowns.

Losing him was like a prizefighter losing his knockout punch in the first round. It was a performance eerily reminiscent of their meltdown against South Florida earlier in the season, where they coughed up the ball five times in a blowout loss. Outside of those two disastrous games, North Texas was undefeated, a high-flying offensive machine.

But in their two biggest moments, the wheels just completely fell off.It’s a tough pill to swallow for the Mean Green faithful. You play a whole season, dominate opponents, and then in the games that matter most, you can’t seem to get out of your own way. That’s football for you—a cruel, beautiful, and utterly unpredictable beast.

What’s Next for the Green Wave?

So, where does Tulane go from here? With this victory, they’ve secured their spot in the 12-team playoff, likely as the No. 11 or No. 12 seed. Depending on how the other conference championships shake out, they could be looking at a road game against a powerhouse like Oregon, Texas A&M, or even a rematch with Ole Miss. A win in the playoffs would tie the school record for victories in a season, putting this team in the same conversation as the legendary 1998 squad.

For now, though, it’s time for celebration in the Big Easy. The Green Wave has weathered the storm, survived a few controversial calls, and earned their place among college football’s elite. Get your popcorn ready, because this little team that could is about to dance on the biggest stage of them all.