Tulane is heading to the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history - and it’s no fluke. After stacking 11 wins for the third time in four seasons and claiming another conference title, the Green Wave are riding real momentum into uncharted territory. And while they’ve been knocking on the door in recent years under Willie Fritz, this time they’ve kicked it open.
The expanded 12-team playoff finally gave a team like Tulane the shot it’s long deserved. Back when the format only allowed four teams, Tulane’s 23 wins across 2022 and 2023 weren’t enough to crack the field.
But now, the Green Wave are in - and they didn’t just sneak in. They earned this.
How Tulane Cracked the CFP
Let’s break it down. The 12-team College Football Playoff isn’t just a straight ranking of the top dozen teams.
Instead, it includes the five highest-ranked conference champions and seven at-large bids. That setup guarantees at least one Group of 5 champion a spot in the field - and this year, there are two.
Tulane, as the highest-ranked Group of 5 champion, locked in the No. 11 seed. James Madison, out of the Sun Belt, grabbed the No. 12 spot.
That bump came after Virginia upset Duke in the ACC title game, a result that shook up the final playoff picture. Tulane’s résumé - including wins over Duke and Northwestern - gave them the edge over other Group of 5 contenders, even with one more loss than James Madison.
Despite being ranked No. 20 overall in the final CFP rankings, Tulane’s conference championship and strong non-conference wins pushed them into the playoff. And with the new format no longer giving automatic byes to the top four conference champs - as it did in 2024 - Tulane stays at No. 11 instead of jumping into a top-four seed.
A Rematch with Ole Miss
Standing between Tulane and a spot in the quarterfinals? Ole Miss - the same team that handed them a lopsided loss back in Week 4.
But that was then. Since that 45-10 defeat, Tulane has found its rhythm.
Meanwhile, Ole Miss has been navigating the fallout from the Lane Kiffin saga, and there’s a sense that the Rebels aren’t quite the same team they were in September. That opens the door for a very different outcome this time around.
Tulane’s Road to the Playoff
Let’s take a closer look at how Tulane got here - and why this team is more than just a feel-good story.
Week 1: Tulane 23, Northwestern 3
The season opener was a statement.
Tulane’s defense shut down the Wildcats after the first quarter, and quarterback Jake Retzlaff introduced himself in style. He ran for 113 yards and a touchdown and added 152 yards and a score through the air.
The defense picked off Northwestern QB Preston Stone four times, setting the tone for a season built on defensive grit.
Week 3: Tulane 34, Duke 27
This win aged like fine wine.
At the time, no one expected Duke to win the ACC - but Tulane took them down in Week 3. The Green Wave jumped out to a 21-3 lead and never looked back.
Retzlaff was electric, racking up 356 total yards and four rushing touchdowns. It was also a revenge game of sorts, with Tulane beating former QB Darian Mensah, now at Duke.
Dec. 5: Tulane 34, North Texas 21 (AAC Championship)
Tulane didn’t face North Texas in the regular season, but when it mattered most, they delivered. The defense intercepted Drew Mestemaker three times in the American Conference title game, while Jamauri McClure powered the offense with 121 rushing yards and a touchdown.
That win sealed Tulane’s playoff spot and capped off a dominant run through the AAC.
Tulane’s 2025 Season at a Glance
| Date | Result |
|---|
| Aug. 30 | Tulane 23, Northwestern 3 |
| Sept. 6 | Tulane 33, South Alabama 31 |
| Sept. 13 | Tulane 34, Duke 27 |
| Sept. 20 | Ole Miss 45, Tulane 10 |
| Sept. 27 | Tulane 31, Tulsa 14 |
| Oct. 9 | Tulane 26, East Carolina 19 |
| Oct. 18 | Tulane 24, Army 17 |
| Oct. 30 | UTSA 48, Tulane 26 |
| Nov. 7 | Tulane 38, Memphis 32 |
| Nov. 15 | Tulane 35, FAU 24 |
| Nov. 22 | Tulane 37, Temple 13 |
| Nov. 29 | Tulane 27, Charlotte |
| Dec. 5 | Tulane 34, North Texas 21 |
That stumble against UTSA was a wake-up call, but Tulane responded with four straight wins to close the regular season and clinch the conference title. They’ve been playing their best ball when it matters most.
The Conference Picture
Tulane is a member of the American Conference, and the AAC showed real strength this season. Not only did Tulane knock off two Power 5 teams, but Memphis and USF also picked up wins against SEC opponents. That helped boost the league’s profile - and Tulane’s case for the playoff.
Final AAC Standings:
| Rank | Team | Conf. Record | Overall Record |
|------|--------------|--------------|----------------| | 1 | Tulane | 7-1 | 11-2 |
| 2 | North Texas | 7-1 | 11-2 | | 3 | Navy | 7-1 | 10-2 |
| 4 | USF | 6-2 | 9-3 | | 5 | East Carolina| 6-2 | 8-4 |
CFP Final Rankings Snapshot
Tulane came in at No. 20 overall but earned the No. 11 seed in the playoff due to its conference title and Group of 5 status.
| Rank | Team | Record | Seed |
|---|
| 1 | Indiana | 13-0 | 1 | | 2 | Ohio State | 12-1 | 2 |
| 3 | Georgia | 12-1 | 3 | | 4 | Texas Tech | 12-1 | 4 |
| 6 | Ole Miss | 11-1 | 6 | | 10 | Miami | 10-2 | 10 |
| 11 | Tulane | 11-2 | 11 | | 12 | James Madison| 12-1 | 12 |
What’s Next?
The Green Wave get a rematch with Ole Miss in the first round - and this time, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Tulane’s playing with house money, but don’t mistake them for a Cinderella. They’ve got the defense, the quarterback play, and the battle-tested résumé to make some noise.
This isn’t just a story of a Group of 5 team sneaking into the playoff. It’s a story of a program that built something real - and now finally has the platform to show it.