Why Tulane Green Wave fans should be bracing for a decline
By Austin Lloyd
The Tulane Green Wave football team is coming off a spectacular 12-2 season, but we shouldn’t expect that caliber of play to last very long.
As fans of college football, we’ll often see a team serve as the nation’s underdog. Sure, several teams can defy expectations to at least some degree, but there is nothing more refreshing than a “little guy” making an outstanding (and nationally-relevant) run.
This is especially the case when discussing teams that are not only smaller, but also historically mediocre. For example, Boise State is always a fun story, but the Broncos are known for being a top-tier squad in the Group of 5. With that said, many would likely prefer to see a team without that image—such as Charlotte or New Mexico—rip off a stunning year or two.
In a sport like CFB, where there is an annoyance due to the consistent lack of “variety” amongst contenders, it’s simply nice for a change of pace. Last year, while there were multiple Group of 5 teams that came to play (South Alabama, Troy, UTSA, etc.), one stood out above all the others: the Tulane Green Wave.
Tulane was one of just two names at the Group of 5 level to hit 12 wins or more (the only other being the aforementioned Troy), and one of five in the entire FBS.
How Tulane took 2022 by storm
The Green Wave had established its potential early in the season, beating the Kansas State Wildcats (who went on to win the Big 12) in September. As the weeks went by, America watched the Wave crash down on foes like the SMU Mustangs (whom Tulane had only beaten once since 2008) and Cincinnati Bearcats (a squad featured in the 2021-22 CFP bracket).
The success led to the program’s first-ever AAC title game appearance, which it won over the UCF Knights 45-28. That left the Green Wave with an 11-2 record and a date with USC in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl. The Trojans were coming in with legendary head coach Lincoln Riley and Heisman-winning quarterback Caleb Williams, undoubtedly making them Tulane’s toughest challengers yet.
Despite being down by 15 with under five minutes to go, the Green Wave came back to pull out the narrow 46-45 victory. The upset made for one of the best matchups of the postseason and one of the best Cotton Bowls of all time. It also made the thought of 2022-23 being Tulane’s greatest season ever nearly impossible to deny.
The journey was a fun one to follow from start to finish, but it was the miraculous conclusion in particular that painted the Wave out as having gone through an overnight transition—one that switched it from a forgettable pushover to a menacing giant-slayer. That kind of storyline makes college football so much more chaotic, which is a big reason as to why fans of the sport are so passionate about it.
With that in mind, I think I speak for everyone when I say that it’d be awesome to watch Tulane unleash another run like last year’s. However, that actually happening feels more like a dream than a reality.