Green Wave Rolls into CFP's First Round
Dec 7, 2025 | Football
NEW ORLEANS – After winning the American Conference Championship on Friday night, Dec. 5, Tulane football (11-2), the No. 11 seed, is making its first-ever playoff appearance in school history. The Green Wave, which has now qualified for the postseason for the second time in four seasons, will face No. 6 seed Ole Miss (11-1) in Oxford, Miss., at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 20, at 2:30 p.m. The game will be televised on TNT, the College Football Playoff Committee announced on Sunday morning.
This marks not only Tulane's first-ever playoff appearance but also the first team from Louisiana to make the playoff in the 12-team format.
The Green Wave qualified for the College Football Playoff as the fourth-highest ranked conference champion. The winner will advance to face No. 3 Georgia (12-1) in the Allstate Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1 at 7 p.m.
Tulane and Ole Miss previously met this season, with the Rebels earning a 45-10 victory on Sept. 20.
First Round Matchups:
- No. 9 Alabama (10-3) vs. No. 8 Oklahoma (10-2) – Dec. 19 at 7 p.m. (ESPN)
- No. 10 Miami (10-2) vs. No. 7 Texas A&M (11-1) – Dec. 20 at 11 a.m. (ESPN)
- No. 11 Tulane (11-2) vs. No. 6 Ole Miss (11-1) – Dec. 20 at 2:30 p.m. (TNT)
- No. 12 James Madison (12-1) vs. No. 5 Oregon – Dec. 20 at 6:30 p.m. (TNT)
Quarterfinals:
- Cotton Bowl Miami – Texas A&M winner vs. No. 2 Ohio State (12-1) – Dec. 31 at 6:30 p.m. (ESPN)
- Orange Bowl James Madison – Oregon winner vs. No. 4 Texas Tech (12-1) – Jan. 1 at 11 a.m. (ESPN)
- Rose Bowl Alabama – Oklahoma winner vs. No. 1 Indiana (13-0) – Jan. 1 at 3 p.m. (ESPN)
- Sugar Bowl Tulane – Ole Miss winner vs. No. 3 Georgia (12-1) – Jan. 1 at 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Semifinals:
- Fiesta Bowl – Jan. 8 (ESPN)
- Peach Bowl – Jan. 9 (ESPN)
Championship:
- College Football National Championship – Jan. 19 at Hard Rock Stadium (ESPN)
Tulane is ranked No. 17 in the Associated Press (AP) Poll and also No. 18 in the USA Today Coaches' Poll as of Sunday, Dec. 7. The program was ranked No. 20 in the final College Football Playoff Rankings on Dec. 2.
The Green Wave's 2025 season includes 11 wins in 13 games, featuring two victories over Power 4 opponents—the first time since 1988. The Dec. 5 win over North Texas (34-21) secured Tulane its second conference title in four years.
The team earned 13 American All-Conference selections plus the Special Teams Player of the Year in Patrick Durkin. The program's All-Conference selections this season are Shadre Hurst (offensive line – 1st team), Santana Hopper (defensive line – 1st team), Jack Tchienchou (safety – 1st team), Durkin (kicker – 1st team), Alec Clark (punter – 1st team), Tre'Von McAlpine (defensive line – 2nd team), Sam Howard (linebacker – 2nd team), Derrick Graham (offensive line – 3rd team), Harvey Dyson (linebacker – 3rd team), Javion White (cornerback – 3rd team), TJ Smith (return specialists – 3rd team), Jason Arredondo (designated snapper – 3rd team), and Jahiem Johnson (cornerback – Honorable Mention)
The program sports a 43-12 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 43-11, two Sun Belt Conference championships, an American Conference title 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.
TICKETS
Tickets for the football playoff game can be purchased by clicking on this link. Men's and women's basketball seasons and single game tickets 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.
This marks not only Tulane's first-ever playoff appearance but also the first team from Louisiana to make the playoff in the 12-team format.
The Green Wave qualified for the College Football Playoff as the fourth-highest ranked conference champion. The winner will advance to face No. 3 Georgia (12-1) in the Allstate Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1 at 7 p.m.
Tulane and Ole Miss previously met this season, with the Rebels earning a 45-10 victory on Sept. 20.
First Round Matchups:
- No. 9 Alabama (10-3) vs. No. 8 Oklahoma (10-2) – Dec. 19 at 7 p.m. (ESPN)
- No. 10 Miami (10-2) vs. No. 7 Texas A&M (11-1) – Dec. 20 at 11 a.m. (ESPN)
- No. 11 Tulane (11-2) vs. No. 6 Ole Miss (11-1) – Dec. 20 at 2:30 p.m. (TNT)
- No. 12 James Madison (12-1) vs. No. 5 Oregon – Dec. 20 at 6:30 p.m. (TNT)
Quarterfinals:
- Cotton Bowl Miami – Texas A&M winner vs. No. 2 Ohio State (12-1) – Dec. 31 at 6:30 p.m. (ESPN)
- Orange Bowl James Madison – Oregon winner vs. No. 4 Texas Tech (12-1) – Jan. 1 at 11 a.m. (ESPN)
- Rose Bowl Alabama – Oklahoma winner vs. No. 1 Indiana (13-0) – Jan. 1 at 3 p.m. (ESPN)
- Sugar Bowl Tulane – Ole Miss winner vs. No. 3 Georgia (12-1) – Jan. 1 at 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Semifinals:
- Fiesta Bowl – Jan. 8 (ESPN)
- Peach Bowl – Jan. 9 (ESPN)
Championship:
- College Football National Championship – Jan. 19 at Hard Rock Stadium (ESPN)
Tulane is ranked No. 17 in the Associated Press (AP) Poll and also No. 18 in the USA Today Coaches' Poll as of Sunday, Dec. 7. The program was ranked No. 20 in the final College Football Playoff Rankings on Dec. 2.
The Green Wave's 2025 season includes 11 wins in 13 games, featuring two victories over Power 4 opponents—the first time since 1988. The Dec. 5 win over North Texas (34-21) secured Tulane its second conference title in four years.
The team earned 13 American All-Conference selections plus the Special Teams Player of the Year in Patrick Durkin. The program's All-Conference selections this season are Shadre Hurst (offensive line – 1st team), Santana Hopper (defensive line – 1st team), Jack Tchienchou (safety – 1st team), Durkin (kicker – 1st team), Alec Clark (punter – 1st team), Tre'Von McAlpine (defensive line – 2nd team), Sam Howard (linebacker – 2nd team), Derrick Graham (offensive line – 3rd team), Harvey Dyson (linebacker – 3rd team), Javion White (cornerback – 3rd team), TJ Smith (return specialists – 3rd team), Jason Arredondo (designated snapper – 3rd team), and Jahiem Johnson (cornerback – Honorable Mention)
The program sports a 43-12 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 43-11, two Sun Belt Conference championships, an American Conference title 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.
TICKETS
Tickets for the football playoff game can be purchased by clicking on this link. Men's and women's basketball seasons and single game tickets 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.
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