Tulane Faces Steep Climb Against Ole Miss in CFP Opener, and Bryce Bohanon’s Injury Makes It Even Tougher
The College Football Playoff kicks off this Saturday, and the Tulane Green Wave are stepping into the spotlight with one of the toughest tasks imaginable: taking down Ole Miss in Oxford. It’s a rematch of a game from earlier this season, one that didn’t go Tulane’s way - a 45-10 loss that left little doubt about the Rebels' dominance.
Now, as the Green Wave prepare for the biggest game in program history, they’re not just up against a team loaded with talent. They’re also dealing with a hostile road environment, the emotional energy of a home playoff game for Ole Miss, and the added motivation the Rebels are playing with following Lane Kiffin’s departure. And as if that wasn’t enough, Tulane just got hit with another blow - one that could seriously impact their already narrow path to an upset.
Bryce Bohanon Doubtful: A Big Loss on and off the Field
Wednesday’s injury report brought some tough news for Tulane. Wide receiver Bryce Bohanon is listed as doubtful for Saturday’s game - and that’s a major hit for this offense.
Bohanon isn’t just one of the Green Wave’s most productive receivers - he’s a foundational piece of what this team has become. He’s hauled in 31 catches for 417 yards and two touchdowns this season, and while those numbers might not jump off the page in today’s pass-happy game, his impact goes well beyond the stat sheet. He’s been with the program since 2021, when Tulane went 2-10, and has been a key part of the turnaround that’s landed them in the playoff.
In the first meeting with Ole Miss, Bohanon managed three catches for 28 yards. It wasn’t a breakout performance, but it was something - and Tulane’s passing game didn’t have many bright spots that day. The Rebels’ defense clamped down hard, and it was clear that if the Green Wave were going to have any shot in a rematch, they’d need every weapon available - especially veterans like Bohanon who know how to compete in tough spots.
All Eyes on Shazz Preston
With Bohanon likely out, the pressure shifts to Tulane’s top wideout, Shazz Preston. He’s been the go-to guy all season, and now the Green Wave need him to deliver in a big way - not just as a playmaker, but as a tone-setter for the rest of the receiving corps. Ole Miss already showed they can bottle up Tulane’s passing attack, and without Bohanon to draw coverage or make tough catches in traffic, Preston’s going to have to shoulder an even heavier load.
The Green Wave will also need someone - or multiple someones - to step up behind Preston. Whether it’s a breakout game from a younger receiver or a creative wrinkle from the coaching staff, Tulane has to find ways to manufacture offense against a defense that’s already proven it can dominate them.
The Road Ahead
There’s no sugarcoating it: Tulane’s path to pulling off this upset was always going to be razor-thin. Ole Miss has the edge in talent, depth, and now, momentum. And with Bohanon likely sidelined, the margin for error just got even smaller.
But if there’s one thing this Green Wave team has shown over the past few seasons, it’s resilience. They’ve climbed out of the basement of college football and into the national spotlight. And while this matchup might feel like a mountain, they’ve scaled steep terrain before.
Still, they’ll need a near-perfect performance - and some big-time contributions from players not named Bryce Bohanon - to keep their playoff dreams alive.