Tulane’s resounding 37-13 win over Temple is more than a statement—it’s a decisive leap toward an American Conference title and a potential College Football Playoff invitation, showing every contender that the Green Wave mean business in November.
Trap games are supposed to threaten ranked teams, not embolden them. Yet Tulane, sitting at No. 24, bulldozed every narrative with a 37-13 victory over Temple that felt like a warning shot to any team eyeing the College Football Playoff (CFP) from the Group of Five.
Retzlaff’s Signature Night and Tulane’s Balanced Attack
Quarterback Jake Retzlaff was electric, tossing two early touchdowns—including a 69-yard strike to Shazz Preston—and adding a rushing score to cap off a clinical performance. On a day when every detail mattered, freshman kicker Patrick Durkin drilled five field goals in as many attempts, turning every stalled drive into points for the Green Wave.
- Passing: 17-of-28, 231 yards, 2 TDs for Retzlaff
- Rushing: Jamauri McClure ripped off 122 yards on 17 carries
- Receiving: Shazz Preston posted 96 yards with a highlight-reel score
These offensive fireworks were matched by a lockdown defense. The Wave limited Temple to 20 rushing yards on 20 carries—a stat that underlined just how suffocating Tulane was up front. The defense also forced the game’s lone turnover, killing Temple’s hope for a second-half rally and stamping out any thought of an upset.
National Context: Why This Win Redefines Tulane’s Season
The 24th-ranked Green Wave are now 9-2 (6-1 AAC), staring down a league title game and sitting atop the Group of Five ranks—a prime position as the CFP selection committee scrutinizes every resume. Saturday’s demolition job did not just keep Tulane’s name in the playoff conversation; it added exclamation points.
- A win against Charlotte next week puts Tulane in the American Conference championship game
- A title-game victory almost guarantees CFP selection as the top-ranked Group of 5 team
This game mattered more than just for the standings. Every team hoping to crack the playoff from outside the Power Five must show dominance, not just survive. Tulane delivered—and did so on the road, in November, when it matters most. For a program still redefining its national image after a historic Cotton Bowl victory in 2022, this was another seismic step forward.
Temple’s Fade and the American Conference Picture
Temple (5-6, 3-4 AAC) entered as a middling threat, but Tulane rendered them powerless by controlling possession, eliminating the run, and keeping quarterback Evan Simon under pressure. Even with two touchdown passes, Simon could not gain traction as the Owls mustered just 167 total yards and finished the game on the back of a relentless Green Wave defense.
The result impacts the entire American Conference landscape. While other contenders are still fighting for bowl positioning or their own faint playoff hopes, Tulane took destiny into its own hands—erasing the margin for error and showing the rest of the Group of Five how top-tier teams handle late-season pressure.
Playoff Implications and Fan Fuel: What’s Next?
Tulane fans know the stakes. The American title game—and perhaps a CFP ticket—waits, but the road runs through Charlotte next week. With momentum cresting, another dominant showing will all but lock the Green Wave into the championship and potentially the biggest postseason berth in school history.
- If Tulane wins out, the Green Wave could become the first team in school history to crack the College Football Playoff field
- Should they stumble, fan debates over “what if” will rage—especially after their commanding win over Temple showed just how high their ceiling can be
No longer is Tulane just a fun Bowl season story—they’re a real force in the college football landscape, a program rewriting what’s possible from the American Conference. The immediate reaction: this win makes every game ahead a must-watch for fans and committee members alike.
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