Tulane Football 2025: Green Wave’s Stunning Rise Sends Shockwaves Through AAC Rankings

Tulane football is riding an unprecedented wave of national attention as the No. 11 Green Wave prepare for today’s College Football Playoff first-round showdown with No. 6 Ole Miss while simultaneously navigating a headline-grabbing coaching transition. H2: Playoff Stage Set in New Orleans The Green Wave punched their CFP ticket with a 12-1 record and now seek revenge for September’s 34-23 loss to the Rebels. Head coach Jon Sumrall insists his roster has “grown significantly” since that defeat, pointing to sharper quarterback play, improved run defense and tighter secondary chemistry. Oddsmakers list Tulane as an 18-point underdog, but the program relishes its spoiler role amid a season already packed with firsts. H2: Sumrall’s Farewell—and $100K Parting Gift Sumrall will coach the playoff run before departing for a Power Four job in 2026. In a parting gesture that energized fans and players alike, he and his wife donated $100,000 to the athletic department, underscoring their “lifelong connection” to the university. The gift is earmarked for facility upgrades and NIL initiatives that have already helped Tulane land impact transfers. H2: Will Hall Era Begins After the CFP Tulane moved quickly to keep momentum intact, promoting passing-game coordinator Will Hall to head coach once the postseason ends. Hall’s familiarity with the roster—he mentored breakout transfer quarterback Jake Retzlaff (2,862 yds passing, 16 rushing TDs)—was pivotal in the decision. Retaining Hall also preserves recruiting pipelines just as the early signing period opens and transfer-portal traffic intensifies. H2: Keys to an Upset 1. Fast start: Tulane scored on its opening drive in nine games this year; duplicating that rhythm keeps Ole Miss quarterback Arch Manning off the field. 2. Red-zone creativity: Hall’s motion-heavy packages have produced 93 percent scoring inside the 20. Expect jet-sweep looks for freshman speedster Zion Franklin. 3. Pressure packages: Defensive coordinator Lance Guidry will unleash hybrid linebacker Nico Blanchard (10.5 sacks) to disrupt Manning’s deep-ball timing. H2: Recruiting & NIL Momentum Tulane’s playoff berth has already sparked a surge in portal inquiries, particularly among Gulf Coast defenders seeking immediate snaps. The new Louisiana-based Green Wave Collective has raised $4 million since August—capital the program plans to wield aggressively once Hall officially takes the whistle. H2: What’s Next Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. CT in Houston’s NRG Stadium, with the winner advancing to face either No. 3 Georgia or No. 14 Arizona. Regardless of today’s outcome, Tulane football’s rapid rise—CFP appearance, seven straight sellouts, top-25 recruiting class and seamless coaching succession—positions the Green Wave as a long-term player in the reconfigured college football landscape.