Tulane football one of 4 bowl drought teams aiming for 2018 postseason

Louisiana-Monroe, Syracuse, Buffalo and Tulane football haven’t been bowling for at least five years. They’re hoping to end the drought in 2018.

These four teams haven’t been bowling for at least five years. It’s an impressive feat, considering that well over half of FBS Division I teams go each season — in 2018, 80 of the 130 teams were slated for postseason spots. Normally, a .500 record is required, but in several recent instances a 5-7 team has qualified due to a lack of possible teams. For this bowl season, though, it appears that two or three schools with a 6-6 record will not receive a bowl invite.

It’s a good reminder that at some schools, competing for a national championship and a New Year’s Six bowl is the absolute expectation. For others, however, simply meeting the mark of mediocrity could be enough as long as a losing season is avoided.

All bowl affiliations for the 2018 will be official on Dec. 2, when the College Football Playoff and New Years Six bowls are announced.

1. Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks — 6-6, Sun Belt Conference, last appearance 2012

ULM has been to only one bowl game in school history, a 45-14 Independence Bowl loss to Ohio in 2012. The Warhawks moved to FBS Division I in 1994, joining the Sun Belt seven seasons later after competing as an independent.

ULM rode a four-game winning streak late in the season to a sixth win before dropping their last two contests. The worst part: the Warhawks may not garner an invite to a bowl this year because of the glut of bowl-eligible teams (see intro).

2. Syracuse Orange — 9-3, Atlantic Coast Conference, last appearance 2013

It’s hard to believe that the Orange haven’t been bowling in five seasons, having most recently won the 2013 Texas Bowl against Minnesota. In the midst of a move from the Big East to the ACC, Syracuse has only been to three bowl games since 2004.

Syracuse has been ranked as high as No. 12 in the nation this season, despite being picked to finish last in its division. Behind a high-octane offense and quarterback Eric Dungey (over 2,500 passing yards), the Orange have knocked off decent conference foes such as Boston College and NC State en route to a 9-3 record.

3. Buffalo Bulls — 10-2, Mid-American Conference, last appearance 2013

The Bulls have been to only two bowl games in school history, in 2008 and and 2013. Buffalo suspended its football program entirely between 1970 and 1977, but returned and rose to the FBS level by 1999.

The Bulls’ 10 wins is the most in its 20-season stretch in the FBS and running backs Jaret Patterson and Kevin Marks lead a powerful rushing attack that has scored 32 touchdowns on the ground.

Buffalo will face Northern Illinois in next weekend’s MAC conference title game as the East Division champion. The Bulls last won the MAC in 2008 under then-head coach Turner Gill.

4. Tulane Green Wave — 6-6, American Athletic Conference, last appearance 2013

For a team that won three SEC titles in the 1930s and 40s (yes, seriously, look it up), recent success has found a way to elude the Green Wave. Tulane has only been to a bowl game twice since the celebrated 1998 squad went undefeated.

With a recent move to the American Athletic Conference from C-USA and head coach Willie Fritz improving in each of his first three seasons, Tulane fans are cautiously optimistic about the state of the program.

LSU transfer quarterback Justin McMillan breathed life into the Tulane offense this season, and the squad was able to bounce back from a 2-5 start to the season. In the finale, Tulane gave up 25 unanswered points and trailed Navy 28-21 in the fourth quarter. A late touchdown and two-point conversion followed to give the Green Wave a 29-28 victory.