Tulane's reign as American Conference champ collides with a Tulsa program still trying to prove last year's 4-8 finish was the floor, not the ceiling.
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TLSATULN
TLSATULN
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Best BetTulane
Tulane's roster took a hit, but they're still the program that just won the AAC and made the CFP, hosting a Tulsa team that hasn't shown it can win consistently under its second-year coach. Back the Green Wave to win outright even in a down year — the talent gap, even diminished, should still favor the home side.
Tulsa
+added proven portal skill talent at RB and WR
+second year under Lamb brings continuity
−finished 4-8 in 2025, no signature win
−defense unproven against a ranked-caliber offense
Tulane
+defending AAC champion, made the CFP in 2025
+McClure and transfer Lucas give a strong run game
−lost 9 of 12 all-conference players, new coach
−unsettled 4-way QB battle and rebuilt O-line
This is a proper contrast of programs heading into Friday, November 6. Tulane spent 2025 stacking wins, capturing a fourth straight AAC title game appearance, and taking a trip to the College Football Playoff. Tulsa spent 2025 finding out what Tre Lamb's rebuild actually looks like on Saturdays, closing at 4-8 in his first year running the program.
The Golden Hurricane didn't sit still this offseason. They went to the portal for skill-position juice, bringing in receiver David Wells Jr. from Oregon State and a two-headed backfield of Trequan Jones (Old Dominion) and D.J. McKinney (New Mexico) to try to fix an offense that needed more explosive plays. Lamb's second year is the real test of whether that talent infusion translates to Ws in AAC play.
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TLSA Tulsa
TULN Tulane
Tulane's situation is stranger for a defending league champ. Jon Sumrall bolted for Florida, promoted offensive coordinator Will Hall inherited the keys, and the Green Wave have to replace 9 of their 12 all-conference honorees from a team that just went 11-3. The starting quarterback job was a four-way scramble all offseason between Kadin Semonza, Houston transfer Zeon Chriss-Gremillion, true freshman Trace Johnson and Dagan Bruno — that's a lot of moving parts for a program trying to defend a crown.
Tulsa Golden Hurricane
Oct 23?vs Army—
Oct 16?@ Rice—
Oct 10?@ Navy—
Oct 1?vs North Texas—
Sep 26?@ Arkansas—
Sep 19?vs East Texas A&M—
Sep 12?@ Sam Houston—
Sep 5?vs Oklahoma State—
Tulane Green Wave
Oct 30?@ Charlotte—
Oct 16?vs Memphis—
Oct 10?@ Army—
Sep 25?vs Southern Miss—
Sep 19?@ Kansas State—
Sep 12?vs South Alabama—
Sep 5?@ Duke—
Recent form.
History leans Tulsa in the all-time series, 13-7, but recent meetings tell a different story — Tulane has taken 6 of the last 10. Running back Jamauri McClure returns after averaging 6.5 yards a carry in 2025, and the addition of Florida State transfer Jaylin Lucas gives Hall's offense a proven complement even while the passing game sorts itself out. That ground game could matter plenty against a Tulsa defense still finding its footing under Lamb.
The offensive line is the other swing factor for Tulane — they finished among the nation's best in pass protection last year and now have to replace most of that unit, including guard Shadre Hurst, who left for Houston. If that front holds up even reasonably well behind a strong backfield, the roster turnover matters a lot less. If it doesn't, a green quarterback under duress is a recipe for a letdown at home against a Tulsa team with real motivation to be the spoiler.
