Football Rises To No. 21 In Both Polls This Week
Oct 29, 2023 | Football
NEW ORLEANS –  After securing the program's sixth straight victory in the win over Rice last weekend, the Tulane football team (7-1, 4-0 AAC) continued to rise up in the national rankings. The program is now ranked at No. 21 in both the Associated Press (AP) Poll and the USA Today Coaches Poll, both polls recently announced.
The program defeated Rice by a 30-28 score on the road on Saturday. Tulane is 19-3 in its last 22 games. The 19 wins the last two season are the third-most in the country only behind Georgia – 23 and Michigan – 21.
Tulane started the season ranked in both the preseason polls at No. 24 in the AP and No. 23 in the Coaches' Poll. The program stayed at No. 24 in the AP Poll and moved up to No. 22 in the Coaches' Poll prior to the meeting with then No. 20/20 Ole Miss. After falling 37-20 the Rebels, the program fell out of the rankings although they continued to receive votes in each of the next four polls before again being nationally ranked on Oct. 15 at No. 23 in the AP Poll and No. 24 in the Coaches Poll. The program rose to 22 in the AP Poll and No. 23 in the Coaches Poll on Oct. 22
Makhi Hughes led the offensive attack against the Owls with his career-high 153 yards rushing. Michael Pratt was 22-for-30 for 263 yards. He also ran for 52 yards and a touchdown. Jesus Machado led the defense with his 12 tackles. Devean Deal tallied four tackles, a sack and two stops for loss.
Tulane's defense leads the conference and is ranked fourth nationally in rushing yards allowed per game at 78.9. The squad also ranks fourth in the conference and 24th in the country in sacks at 2.75 per game. The program leads the AAC in turnovers gained at 15. Individually, Lance Robinson leads the conference and is placed sixth in the country with his four interceptions. Darius Hodges and Patrick Jenkins are ranked second and sixth in the conference in sacks, respectfully. Valentino Ambrosio leads the conference with his 1.5 field goals per game. He also ranks third in the league in field goal percentage (80.0). Lawrence Keys III is placed fourth in the AAC in yards per catch at 17.79. Keys is also seventh in the league with his six touchdowns scored. Chris Brazzell II is placed sixth in the league in yards per catch (17.70). Makhi Hughes leads the conference in rushing with 772 yards. He is fifth in the league with five rushing touchdowns.
This week the Tulane football team stays on the road to take on East Carolina (1-7, 0-4 AAC) at 2:30 p.m. in a game that will also be shown live on ESPNU on Saturday, Nov. 4.
TICKETS
Tickets for the 2023 season for football, men's and women's basketball and volleyball can be purchased by calling 504-861-WAVE (9283), logging on to TulaneTix.com or visiting the ticket office at the James W. Wilson Jr. Center.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Follow Tulane football on Twitter and Facebook and Instagram. Follow Tulane Athletics on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
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WE ARE NOLA BUILT
Tulane University is located in the city of New Orleans. It is a city built on tradition and resiliency. The lessons Green Wave student-athletes have learned through their connection with this university and city have BUILT doctors, lawyers, business leaders, conference champions, all-conference players, All-Americans, professional athletes and NCAA tournament teams. The city of New Orleans has shaped us into who we are today. We are One City. We are Tulane. We are NOLA BUILT. Check out our story at NolaBuilt.com.
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The program defeated Rice by a 30-28 score on the road on Saturday. Tulane is 19-3 in its last 22 games. The 19 wins the last two season are the third-most in the country only behind Georgia – 23 and Michigan – 21.
Tulane started the season ranked in both the preseason polls at No. 24 in the AP and No. 23 in the Coaches' Poll. The program stayed at No. 24 in the AP Poll and moved up to No. 22 in the Coaches' Poll prior to the meeting with then No. 20/20 Ole Miss. After falling 37-20 the Rebels, the program fell out of the rankings although they continued to receive votes in each of the next four polls before again being nationally ranked on Oct. 15 at No. 23 in the AP Poll and No. 24 in the Coaches Poll. The program rose to 22 in the AP Poll and No. 23 in the Coaches Poll on Oct. 22
Makhi Hughes led the offensive attack against the Owls with his career-high 153 yards rushing. Michael Pratt was 22-for-30 for 263 yards. He also ran for 52 yards and a touchdown. Jesus Machado led the defense with his 12 tackles. Devean Deal tallied four tackles, a sack and two stops for loss.
Tulane's defense leads the conference and is ranked fourth nationally in rushing yards allowed per game at 78.9. The squad also ranks fourth in the conference and 24th in the country in sacks at 2.75 per game. The program leads the AAC in turnovers gained at 15. Individually, Lance Robinson leads the conference and is placed sixth in the country with his four interceptions. Darius Hodges and Patrick Jenkins are ranked second and sixth in the conference in sacks, respectfully. Valentino Ambrosio leads the conference with his 1.5 field goals per game. He also ranks third in the league in field goal percentage (80.0). Lawrence Keys III is placed fourth in the AAC in yards per catch at 17.79. Keys is also seventh in the league with his six touchdowns scored. Chris Brazzell II is placed sixth in the league in yards per catch (17.70). Makhi Hughes leads the conference in rushing with 772 yards. He is fifth in the league with five rushing touchdowns.
This week the Tulane football team stays on the road to take on East Carolina (1-7, 0-4 AAC) at 2:30 p.m. in a game that will also be shown live on ESPNU on Saturday, Nov. 4.
TICKETS
Tickets for the 2023 season for football, men's and women's basketball and volleyball can be purchased by calling 504-861-WAVE (9283), logging on to TulaneTix.com or visiting the ticket office at the James W. Wilson Jr. Center.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Follow Tulane football on Twitter and Facebook and Instagram. Follow Tulane Athletics on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Â
WE ARE NOLA BUILT
Tulane University is located in the city of New Orleans. It is a city built on tradition and resiliency. The lessons Green Wave student-athletes have learned through their connection with this university and city have BUILT doctors, lawyers, business leaders, conference champions, all-conference players, All-Americans, professional athletes and NCAA tournament teams. The city of New Orleans has shaped us into who we are today. We are One City. We are Tulane. We are NOLA BUILT. Check out our story at NolaBuilt.com.
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/ FootballPostgame: HC Jon Sumrall and WR Anthony Brown-Stephens - 9/20/25
Sunday, September 21
Postgame: LB Sam Howard - 9/20/25
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Tulane Tuesday: WR Shazz Preston - 9/16/25
Tuesday, September 16
Tulane Tuesday: Spear TJ Smith - 9/16/25
Tuesday, September 16
