Football Rises To No. 18 in the Associated Press and the Coaches’ Polls
Nov 24, 2024 | Football
NEW ORLEANS  – Tulane football's team is ranked for the third straight week as the program moved up to No. 18 in the Associated Press (AP) Poll and are also placed No. 18 nationally in the Coaches' Poll.
The Green Wave totaled 446 votes in the most recent AP poll to place above No. 19 BYU, No. 20 Texas A&M, No. 21 UNLV, No. 22 Illinois, No. 23 Colorado, No. 24 Missouri and No. 25 Army. Tulane is one of two teams in the AAC to be ranked along with Army. The program was ranked No. 25 on Nov. 10 and No. 20 on Nov. 17 before moving up to No. 18 this week.
Tulane also garnered enough votes to be ranked in the Coaches' Poll for the second time this year as the program is No. 18 after being No. 20 last week. The program and Army are the only two AAC schools ranked.
The program also moved up to No. 20 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings that were released on Nov. 19 after starting the season at No. 25 on Nov. 12
Tulane has started the 2024 season with an 9-2 record and 7-0 mark in the AAC. The Green Wave earned a road conference victory and 35-0 shutout of Navy on Nov. 16. Quarterback Darian Mensah threw a pair of touchdown passes and also ran for a career-high 57 yards plus a rushing touchdown. The win was Tulane's eighth straight overall and the 17th consecutive AAC regular victory dating back to the 2022 campaign. Tulane has now tied the AAC record for consecutive regular season conference victories. Both losses for Green Wave this season have come to teams that were ranked in Associated Press Top 25 including a 34-27 home defeat to then No. 17 Kansas State on Sept. 7 and a 34-19 road loss to then No. 15 Oklahoma on Sept. 14.
Tulane leads the AAC and the nation with six defensive touchdowns. The program is placed second in passing efficiency in the conference with a 169.10. Makhi Hughes is placed No. 8 nationally in rushing this season with 1,291 yards. The team has already been honored by the league office 11 times this season with Rayshawn Pleasant (Defensive Player of the Week - Sept. 2 and Special Teams Player of the Week – Oct. 6), Darian Mensah (Weekly Honor Roll - Sept. 9 and Sept. 30), Tyler Grubbs (Weekly Honor Roll - Sept. 16), Makhi Hughes (Weekly Honor Roll - Sept. 23, Oct. 21, Oct. 28 & Nov. 4), Gerrod Henderson (Defensive Player of the Week - Sept. 30) and Sam Howard (Defensive Player of the Week – Nov 18).
Tulane's football team was chosen for third in the AAC Preseason Media Poll with 362 points plus two first-place votes at the annual conference media day.
Tulane finished the 2023 season with a mark of 11-3 and a perfect 8-0 record in the American Athletic Conference. The program concluded the campaign with the 16th bowl appearance at the GoBowling Military Bowl contest against Virginia Tech. It was the fifth time in the last six years that Tulane has appeared in a bowl game. The team is 32-7 over the last three seasons.
The school announced the hiring of Jon Sumrall as the 42nd head coach of the team on December 8, 2023. The Huntsville, Alabama native was one of the most successful head coaches in the country the last two seasons. He guided Troy University to a 23-4 record, two Sun Belt Conference championships and a pair of double-digit winning streaks. He was named Sun Belt Conference Coach of Year and was twice named a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year honor. Sumrall returns to Tulane after serving as the Green Wave's Co-Defensive Coordinator for three years (2012-14). In 2013, he was a crucial part of Tulane's run to the New Orleans Bowl, the program's first postseason appearance since 2002 and third since 1988. Sumrall also was named a finalist for FootballScoop Defensive Line Coach of the Year.
Next, Tulane's football team returns home to Yulman Stadium to take No. 23 (Coaches' Poll) Memphis on November 28 at 6:30 p.m. in a game that will also be shown on ESPN.
TICKETS
Tickets for the football, volleyball and the upcoming men's and women's basketball seasons 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.
                                           - TulaneGreenWave -
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The Green Wave totaled 446 votes in the most recent AP poll to place above No. 19 BYU, No. 20 Texas A&M, No. 21 UNLV, No. 22 Illinois, No. 23 Colorado, No. 24 Missouri and No. 25 Army. Tulane is one of two teams in the AAC to be ranked along with Army. The program was ranked No. 25 on Nov. 10 and No. 20 on Nov. 17 before moving up to No. 18 this week.
Tulane also garnered enough votes to be ranked in the Coaches' Poll for the second time this year as the program is No. 18 after being No. 20 last week. The program and Army are the only two AAC schools ranked.
The program also moved up to No. 20 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings that were released on Nov. 19 after starting the season at No. 25 on Nov. 12
Tulane has started the 2024 season with an 9-2 record and 7-0 mark in the AAC. The Green Wave earned a road conference victory and 35-0 shutout of Navy on Nov. 16. Quarterback Darian Mensah threw a pair of touchdown passes and also ran for a career-high 57 yards plus a rushing touchdown. The win was Tulane's eighth straight overall and the 17th consecutive AAC regular victory dating back to the 2022 campaign. Tulane has now tied the AAC record for consecutive regular season conference victories. Both losses for Green Wave this season have come to teams that were ranked in Associated Press Top 25 including a 34-27 home defeat to then No. 17 Kansas State on Sept. 7 and a 34-19 road loss to then No. 15 Oklahoma on Sept. 14.
Tulane leads the AAC and the nation with six defensive touchdowns. The program is placed second in passing efficiency in the conference with a 169.10. Makhi Hughes is placed No. 8 nationally in rushing this season with 1,291 yards. The team has already been honored by the league office 11 times this season with Rayshawn Pleasant (Defensive Player of the Week - Sept. 2 and Special Teams Player of the Week – Oct. 6), Darian Mensah (Weekly Honor Roll - Sept. 9 and Sept. 30), Tyler Grubbs (Weekly Honor Roll - Sept. 16), Makhi Hughes (Weekly Honor Roll - Sept. 23, Oct. 21, Oct. 28 & Nov. 4), Gerrod Henderson (Defensive Player of the Week - Sept. 30) and Sam Howard (Defensive Player of the Week – Nov 18).
Tulane's football team was chosen for third in the AAC Preseason Media Poll with 362 points plus two first-place votes at the annual conference media day.
Tulane finished the 2023 season with a mark of 11-3 and a perfect 8-0 record in the American Athletic Conference. The program concluded the campaign with the 16th bowl appearance at the GoBowling Military Bowl contest against Virginia Tech. It was the fifth time in the last six years that Tulane has appeared in a bowl game. The team is 32-7 over the last three seasons.
The school announced the hiring of Jon Sumrall as the 42nd head coach of the team on December 8, 2023. The Huntsville, Alabama native was one of the most successful head coaches in the country the last two seasons. He guided Troy University to a 23-4 record, two Sun Belt Conference championships and a pair of double-digit winning streaks. He was named Sun Belt Conference Coach of Year and was twice named a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year honor. Sumrall returns to Tulane after serving as the Green Wave's Co-Defensive Coordinator for three years (2012-14). In 2013, he was a crucial part of Tulane's run to the New Orleans Bowl, the program's first postseason appearance since 2002 and third since 1988. Sumrall also was named a finalist for FootballScoop Defensive Line Coach of the Year.
Next, Tulane's football team returns home to Yulman Stadium to take No. 23 (Coaches' Poll) Memphis on November 28 at 6:30 p.m. in a game that will also be shown on ESPN.
TICKETS
Tickets for the football, volleyball and the upcoming men's and women's basketball seasons 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.
                                           - TulaneGreenWave -
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Players Mentioned
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/ FootballTulane Tuesday: HC Jon Sumrall - 9/23/25
Tuesday, September 23
Tulane Tuesday: S Bailey Despaine - 9/23/24
Tuesday, September 23
Tulane Tuesday: OL Shadre Hurst - 9/23/25
Tuesday, September 23
Postgame: HC Jon Sumrall and WR Anthony Brown-Stephens - 9/20/25
Sunday, September 21
