Football Checks In At No. 24 in the College Football Playoff Rankings
Nov 18, 2025 | Football
NEW ORLEANS – Tulane football's team is ranked No. 24 in the second edition of the 2025 College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings released on November 18.
This is the fourth consecutive season that Tulane has earned a CFP ranking. The team entered the 2023 Goodyear Cotton Bowl ranked No. 16 by the CFP before upsetting then No. 10 USC by a 46-45 score. The team was ranked No. 24 by the CFP committee during the 2023 season. The program was most recently ranked by the CFP on Nov. 26, 2024 at No. 17.
Tulane is currently ranked ahead of No. 25 Arizona State and just behind No. 20 Tennessee, No. 21 Illinois, No. 22 Missouri, and No. 23 Houston.
While this is the second year of the 12-team playoff, the format is different than last season. The five highest-ranked conference champions earn automatic bids, while the next seven-best non-conference champions will earn at-large spots. From there, the 12 teams in the field will be seeded by ranking, regardless of whether they won their conference championship. Therefore, the four highest-ranked teams in the field will earn byes, with seeds Nos. 5-12 playing in the first round of the Playoff.
First round
No. 5 team at No. 12 team
No. 6 team at No. 11 team
No. 7 team at No. 10 team
No. 8 team at No. 9 team
Quarterfinals
No. 1 team vs. No. 8/9 team
No. 2 team vs. No. 7/10 team
No. 3 team vs. No. 6/11 team
No. 4 team vs. No. 5/12 team
The Tulane football team (8-2, 5-1 American) has started the 2025 season with eight wins in the first 10 games including a pair of wins over Power 4 opponents in the regular season for the first time since 1988. The victory over Florida Atlantic makes Tulane 5-1 or better in conference play for the 10th time in school history (2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2013, 1998, 1997, 1949, 1948, and 1934). This is only the 12th time the school has won five or more conference games between the time in the American, CUSA and SEC.
The program ranks fourth in the league this season in interceptions (10) and is tops in net punting (41.84). Patrick Durkin is the American Conference's leader in both field goals a game (1.50) and field goal percentage (93.8). Alec Clark leads the conference with his average of 47.2 yards per punt. Retzlaff is placed fourth in the league in rushing touchdowns (11). He is also leads the league in passing yards per completion (13.38). Javion White and Jahiem Johnson are tied for second in the conference with three interceptions.
Tulane ended the 2024 season playing in the program's third consecutive bowl game. It was also the sixth time in the last seven years that Tulane had been selected to play in a bowl game (2018 – Cure Bowl, 2019 – Armed Forces Bowl, 2020 – Famous Idaho Bowl, 2022 – Cotton Bowl, 2023 – Military Bowl and 2024 – Gasparilla Bowl). Overall, it was Tulane's 17th bowl appearance (1932 – Rose Bowl, 1935 – Sugar Bowl, 1939 – Sugar Bowl, 1970 – Liberty Bowl, 1973 – Astro Bluebonnet Bowl, 1979 – Liberty Bowl, 1980 – Hall of Fame Bowl, 1987 – Independence Bowl, 1998 – Liberty Bowl, 2002 – Hawaii Bowl, 2013 – New Orleans, 2018 – Cure Bowl, 2019 – Armed Forces Bowl, 2020 -Famous Idaho Bowl, 2022 – Cotton Bowl, 2023 – Military Bowl and 2024 – Gasparilla Bowl) with the program sporting an all-time record of 7-10 in bowl games. Tulane also made the team's third straight American Championship Game appearance in 2024.
The program sports a 40-12 record over the last four seasons.
Head Coach Jon Sumrall has been one of the most successful coaches in the country over the last four seasons with a record of 40-11, 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 returned 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, the Tulane football team heads to Philadelphia to take on Temple on Saturday, Nov. 22, at 2:45 p.m. in a game that will broadcasted on ESPNU.
TICKETS
Tickets for the football and the 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.
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 -
This is the fourth consecutive season that Tulane has earned a CFP ranking. The team entered the 2023 Goodyear Cotton Bowl ranked No. 16 by the CFP before upsetting then No. 10 USC by a 46-45 score. The team was ranked No. 24 by the CFP committee during the 2023 season. The program was most recently ranked by the CFP on Nov. 26, 2024 at No. 17.
Tulane is currently ranked ahead of No. 25 Arizona State and just behind No. 20 Tennessee, No. 21 Illinois, No. 22 Missouri, and No. 23 Houston.
While this is the second year of the 12-team playoff, the format is different than last season. The five highest-ranked conference champions earn automatic bids, while the next seven-best non-conference champions will earn at-large spots. From there, the 12 teams in the field will be seeded by ranking, regardless of whether they won their conference championship. Therefore, the four highest-ranked teams in the field will earn byes, with seeds Nos. 5-12 playing in the first round of the Playoff.
First round
No. 5 team at No. 12 team
No. 6 team at No. 11 team
No. 7 team at No. 10 team
No. 8 team at No. 9 team
Quarterfinals
No. 1 team vs. No. 8/9 team
No. 2 team vs. No. 7/10 team
No. 3 team vs. No. 6/11 team
No. 4 team vs. No. 5/12 team
| Game | Date |
| First round (On-Campus) | Dec. 19 – 7 p.m. (ABC/ESPN) |
| First round (On-Campus) | Dec. 20 – 11 a.m. (ABC/ESPN), 2:30 p.m. (TNT/truTV/HBO Max) |
| 6:30 p.m., (TNT, truTV/HBO Max) | |
| Cotton Bowl (Quarterfinals) | Dec. 31 – 6:30 p.m. (ESPN) |
| Orange Bowl (Quarterfinals) | Jan. 1 – 11 a.m. (ESPN) |
| Rose Bowl (Quarterfinals) | Jan. 1 – 3 p.m. (ESPN) |
| Sugar Bowl (Quarterfinals) | Jan. 1 – 7 p.m. (ESPN |
| Fiesta Bowl (Semifinals) | Jan. 8 – 6:30 p.m. (ESPN) |
| Peach Bowl (Semifinals) | Jan. 9 – 6:30 p.m. (ESPN) |
| CFP National Championship | Jan. 19 – 6:30 p.m. (ESPN) |
| Hard Rock Stadium |
The Tulane football team (8-2, 5-1 American) has started the 2025 season with eight wins in the first 10 games including a pair of wins over Power 4 opponents in the regular season for the first time since 1988. The victory over Florida Atlantic makes Tulane 5-1 or better in conference play for the 10th time in school history (2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2013, 1998, 1997, 1949, 1948, and 1934). This is only the 12th time the school has won five or more conference games between the time in the American, CUSA and SEC.
The program ranks fourth in the league this season in interceptions (10) and is tops in net punting (41.84). Patrick Durkin is the American Conference's leader in both field goals a game (1.50) and field goal percentage (93.8). Alec Clark leads the conference with his average of 47.2 yards per punt. Retzlaff is placed fourth in the league in rushing touchdowns (11). He is also leads the league in passing yards per completion (13.38). Javion White and Jahiem Johnson are tied for second in the conference with three interceptions.
Tulane ended the 2024 season playing in the program's third consecutive bowl game. It was also the sixth time in the last seven years that Tulane had been selected to play in a bowl game (2018 – Cure Bowl, 2019 – Armed Forces Bowl, 2020 – Famous Idaho Bowl, 2022 – Cotton Bowl, 2023 – Military Bowl and 2024 – Gasparilla Bowl). Overall, it was Tulane's 17th bowl appearance (1932 – Rose Bowl, 1935 – Sugar Bowl, 1939 – Sugar Bowl, 1970 – Liberty Bowl, 1973 – Astro Bluebonnet Bowl, 1979 – Liberty Bowl, 1980 – Hall of Fame Bowl, 1987 – Independence Bowl, 1998 – Liberty Bowl, 2002 – Hawaii Bowl, 2013 – New Orleans, 2018 – Cure Bowl, 2019 – Armed Forces Bowl, 2020 -Famous Idaho Bowl, 2022 – Cotton Bowl, 2023 – Military Bowl and 2024 – Gasparilla Bowl) with the program sporting an all-time record of 7-10 in bowl games. Tulane also made the team's third straight American Championship Game appearance in 2024.
The program sports a 40-12 record over the last four seasons.
Head Coach Jon Sumrall has been one of the most successful coaches in the country over the last four seasons with a record of 40-11, 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 returned 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, the Tulane football team heads to Philadelphia to take on Temple on Saturday, Nov. 22, at 2:45 p.m. in a game that will broadcasted on ESPNU.
TICKETS
Tickets for the football and the 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.
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 -
Players Mentioned
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/ FootballTulane Tuesday: HC Jon Sumrall - 11/18/25
Tuesday, November 18
Tulane Tuesday: LB Chris Rodgers - 11/18/25
Tuesday, November 18
Tulane Tuesday: QB Jake Retzlaff - 11/18/25
Tuesday, November 18
Postgame: QB Jake Retzlaff - 11/15/25
Tuesday, November 18
