Tulane secures place in College Football Playoff by winning American Conference title game against North Texas

Tulane has officially earned a spot in the College Football Playoff following a 34-21 triumph over North Texas in the American Athletic Conference championship on Friday night. The No. 20 Green Wave showcased a strong performance, taking control early and never looking back.

Quarterback Jake Retzlaff led the charge, rushing for two touchdowns and guiding Tulane to a 24-7 halftime lead. The game included several controversial moments involving officiating, but Tulane consistently outplayed North Texas on both sides of the ball.

Early in the second quarter, Tulane recovered a punt after a collision between teammates and North Texas' Landon Sides, with no penalty called. Retzlaff then scored at the end of the first half to extend the lead to 17 points. North Texas struggled to respond, and turnovers continued to plague the Mean Green.

North Texas star running back, Caleb Hawkins, exited early with a shoulder injury after just seven carries, further hindering their offense. The team ended the game with four turnovers, limiting their scoring opportunities.

Tulane's defense also made key plays, including an interception returned for a touchdown by Chris Rodgers. Despite some debate over the ruling, the play stood, contributing to the decisive win for the Green Wave.

With this victory, Tulane will enter the College Football Playoff, likely facing either Oregon, Texas A&M, or Ole Miss, depending on the outcomes of other conference title games. The team will be seeded No. 11 or No. 12, aiming to match the school record for most wins in a season if they advance.

This win marks Tulanes sixth season with at least 10 wins and positions the team to potentially join the ranks of the schools most successful football squads in history.

Author: Harper Simmons