Tulane Football Set For Thursday Night Clash with No. 21/19 SMU

Thursday, October 21

Dallas, TX

6:30 p.m.

Tulane University

SMU

Tulane Football Set For Thursday Night Clash with No. 21/19 SMU

Oct 19, 2021 | Football

GAME 7 TULANE GREEN WAVE (1-5; 0-2) vs. SMU MUSTANGS (6-0; 2-0)
When:	Thursday, Oct. 21 \| 6:30 p.m. CT
Where:	Dallas Gerald Ford Stadium (32,000)
Watch:	ESPN
Commentators:	Matt Barrie (Play-by-Play) Roddy Jones (Analyst) Harry Lyles Jr. (Sideline)
Radio:	104.1 The Spot
Radio Commentators:	Corey Gloor (Play-by-Play) Steve Barrios (Analyst) Maddy Hudak (Sideline)
Stats:	Live Stats
Notes	Tulane Notes \| SMU Notes
Social:	@GreenWaveFB \| #RollWave \| #NolaBuilt

GREEN WAVE FOOTBALL SET FOR MIDWEEK MATCHUP WITH SMU

The Green Wave hit the road for a midweek matchup with SMU on Thursday. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. CT on ESPN.
The game will serve as Tulane's second straight Thursday night contest and will mark the second straight year the two teams have met during the week. -Tulane has never appeared on ESPN's Thursday night television platform twice in the same season. Prior to the 2018 season, Tulane had never appeared on ESPN's Thursday night showcase.
Tulane will be in search of its first win over SMU since 2012. Despite the Green Wave's six-game losing streak to the Mustangs, four of Tulane's last five losses to SMU have been decided by four points or less, including last year's 37-34 overtime setback at home.
The Green Wave will faceoff against the Mustangs for the 28th time in program history. SMU owns a 14-13 all-time series lead.
Tulane will look to bounce back from its 40-22 loss at home against Houston back on Oct. 7.

FIRST AND 10
1. The Green Wave's trip SMU will mark the third nationally-ranked opponent Tulane has faced this season.
2. Tulane comes into its matchup with SMU featuring the nation's 33rd-best scoring offense, averaging 32.8 points per game. Tulane's offensive unit also ranks sixth in the American Athletic Conference.
3. Prior to the Green Wave's trip to ECU, Tulane announced its team captains for the remainder of the year. Linebacker Nick Andeson, offensive lineman Sincere Haynesworth, linebacker Kevin Henry, defensive lineman Jeffery Johnson, quarterback Michael Pratt and linebacker Dorian Williams were all voted as captains by their teammates.
4. Tulane's defense ranks second in the AAC in tackles for loss (19th nationally), averaging 7.0 TFL's per game.
5. Tight end Tyrick James has established himself as one of the top tight ends in the country in the early portion of the 2021 season. His 343 yards receiving rank in the nation's Top 10 among tight ends.
6. Two weeks ago against Houston, Pratt accounted for two touchdowns against the Cougars. Pratt has thrown for a touchdown pass in every college game he has played in since making his debut in 2020 (16 straight games). He currently has 33 career touchdown passes and has cracked into the program's all-time Top 10 in career touchdown passes (he is currently ranked ninth all-time).
7. The Green Wave have surpassed 200 yards rushing in 16 games dating back to the start of the 2019 season. Tulane led the American in rushing yards per game last year, averaging 217.1 per game.
8. Tulane has rushed for over 100 yards or more as a team in 68 of its last 71 games. Tulane had its 56-game streak of rushing for at least 100 yards as a team snapped at Houston back on Oct. 8, 2020.
9. Tulane's special teams rank 11th in the nation in net punting (43.5 yards per game).
10. Tulane was one of just 15 FBS teams to play 12 or more games in 2020 (no games were canceled and team activities were never paused during the season).

SCOUTING SMU

The Mustangs is currently ranked No. 21 in the AFCA Coaches Poll and No. 19 in the Associated Press Poll.
SMU is also one of 11 teams nationally that are undefeated through week seven. In addition, SMU is bowl eligible for third straight year.
SMU has defended its own turf posting a 12-1 mark in home games since the start of the 2019 campaign.
The Mustangs feature the nation's 10th-best scoring offense.
SMU enters this week's matchup with Tulane following a bye week.
In their last outing against Navy, SMU collected its first win in Annapolis since 1998. Quarterback Tanner Mordecai threw for 324 yards and two touchdowns, while Reggie Roberson caught five passes for 100 yards and a touchdown.
The Mustangs offensive line has been a model of consistency this season, limiting opponents to just one sack on the year.
Head coach Sonny Dykes is in his fourth season in Dallas and has guided the Mustangs to 23 wins since the start of the 2019 season, the most by any team in the state of Texas.
SMU was picked to finish third in the American Athletic Conference Preseason Poll.

LAST TIME OUT: TULANE COMES UP SHORT VS. HOUSTON

Tulane's matchup with Houston marked the 26th all-time meeting between the two teams.
With the loss, Tulane fell to 19-7 all-time against Houston.
The Green Wave's setback marked the first time since 2017 that Tulane has lost four straight games.
Tulane dropped its American Athletic Conference home opener for the second straight year.
The Green Wave found themselves in a 14-point hole at the end of second quarter, but responded by outscoring Houston 22-3 over the next quarter and a half of play to take a 22-17 lead.
The Cougars went on to score the final 23 points of the game to secure the win.
As a team, Tulane was outgained 435-308.
Nick Anderson, Sincere Haynesworth, Dorian Williams and Jeffery Johnson served as the team captains.
Tulane linebacker Kevin Henry carried the Wave of Change flag and Green Wave quarterback Michael Pratt carried the No. 18 flag in honor of former Tulane student-athlete Devon Walker.
Offensive starters for the Green Wave were QB Michael Pratt, RB Cameron Carroll, WR Jaetavian Toles, WR Shae Wyatt, TE Tyrick James, TE Will Wallace, OL Sincere Haynesworth, OL Caleb Thomas, OL Corey Dublin, OL Rashad Green, OL Joey Claybrook.
Dublin's start was the 55th of his career. Dublin has the most starts of any player on the team.
Pratt passed for 214 yards through the air. He also threw two passing touchdowns.
Running back Tyjae Spears registered longest carry of the year in the second quarter, as he rushed in from 39 yards out.
James and Wallace both hauled in their third receiving touchdowns of the season.
Wide receiver Shae Wyatt led the team with five receptions. His five receptions tied a season-high.
Defensive starters for the Green Wave were DL JoJo Dorceus, DL Jeffery Johnson, DL Noah Seiden, LB Dorian Williams, LB Marvin Moody, DB Jadon Canady, DB Jaylon Monroe, DB Ajani Kerr, DB Macon Clark and DB Derrion Rakestraw.
Johnson's start was the 38th of his career which is the most of any player on the defense.
Tulane outgained Houston 138-50 in the third quarter and held the Cougars to just three points.
Clark led the team with 10.0 tackles and 2.0 tackles for loss. He also had 1.0 sack.
Kerr tallied a game-high two pass breakups.
For just the second time this season, Tulane failed to create a defensive turnover.
As a team, Tulane finished the game with 5.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks.
Punter Ryan Wright finished the game with five punts for 233 yards (46.6 average).
Merek Glover connected on one extra point in the second quarter and now has 316 career points. He needs just 18 more points to become the school's all-time leading scorer.

PRATT FRAT

In just 16 career appearances, quarterback Michael Pratt has quickly made a name for himself in the college football landscape.
Pratt has thrown for over 3,000 yards and has 33 touchdown passes in his career.
His 13 touchdowns this season rank third in The American and 27th nationally.
Pratt also ranks sixth in the American in passing yards (1,364).
The Florida native has thrown for multiple touchdown passes in 13 career games.
Pratt has passed for over 200 yards in eight career games.
Pratt also has proven to be a force in the running game, as he has rushed and passed for a touchdown in nine career games.
Against UAB, Pratt threw his first interception of the year in the third quarter against the Blazers. Prior to his interception, Pratt had gone 96 attempts without throwing an interception.

Longest Active Touchdown Streak in FBS
32 - Sam Howell, North Carolina
26 - Dillon Gabriel, UCF
20 - Carson Strong, Nevada
18 - Matt Corral, Ole Miss
16 - Michael Pratt, Tulane
16 - Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati

APPROACHING A MILESTONE

Tulane kicker Merek Glover needs just 18 points to pass Seth Marler to become the school's all-time leading scorer.
Marler has held the all-time scoring record since 2002.
Glover currently has 316 points in his kicking career.
Glover also ranks in the Top 10 in field goals made (41), PATS made (193), PATS attempted (198) and PAT percentage (.974).
Glover originally joined the team as a walk-on back in 2017 and was later put on scholarship in 2019.

A SCHOLAR AND A FREAK

Tulane linebacker Nick Anderson was recently recognized as a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy.
Anderson was one of 79 players from the Football Bowl Subdivision that was recognized on as a William V. Campbell Trophy semifinalist.
In the classroom, he holds a 3.7 grade point average and is majoring in Homeland Security. This past December he was selected as one of two departmental recipients of the Stephen Martin Scholars award.
Prior to the 2021 campaign, Anderson was honored on Bruce Feldman's annual FREAKS LIST.

THE OLD GUARD

Tulane linebacker Kevin Henry is one of only two players (USF's Thad Magnum) in the American Athletic Conference that is in his seventh year playing college football.
The seventh-year linebacker currently ranks fourth on the team in tackles with 31.
Earlier this year against Morgan State, Henry collected his first career interception return for touchdown.
During his five years at Oklahoma State, Henry guided the Cowboys to 45 wins and five bowl appearances.

A TOUGH SLATE

The Green Wave's schedule included non-conference matchups against Oklahoma (Sept. 4), Morgan State (Sept. 11), Ole Miss (Sept. 17) and UAB (Sept. 25). Tulane also will welcome league opponents Houston (Oct. 7), Cincinnati (Oct. 30), Tulsa (Nov. 13) and USF (Nov. 20).
Tulane's 2021 schedule is currently tied for the 37th toughest schedule among teams from the FBS.
Tulane's matchup with SMU will mark the third nationally-ranked opponent the Green Wave have faced this season.
With its matchup against No. 2/3 Cincinnati set for Oct. 30, Tulane will faceoff against its fourth nationally ranked opponent this year. The Green Wave have not faced four nationally-ranked opponents in the same season since the 1971 campaign.