Nov 24, 2023; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Tulane Green Wave running back Makhi Hughes (21) runs against UTSA Roadrunners running back Kevorian Barnes (4) during the first half at Yulman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images

Report: Tulane RB Makhi Hughes in transfer portal

Tulane star running back Makhi Hughes is entering the transfer portal, ESPN reported Friday.

A two-time selection to the All-American Athletic Conference first-team, Hughes has two years of eligibility remaining.

Hughes rushed for 1,401 yards and 15 touchdowns in 14 games for the Green Wave (9-5) this season.

He was named the AAC Rookie of the Year in 2023 with 1,378 rushing yards and seven touchdowns.

The Birmingham, Ala., native was a three-star recruit in the Class of 2022, as ranked by 247Sports.

–Field Level Media

Florida Gators quarterback DJ Lagway (2) throws an interception during the first half at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL on Friday, December 20, 2024 in the 2024 Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl. [Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun]

DJ Lagway, Florida pull away from Tulane to win Gasparilla Bowl

DJ Lagway threw a touchdown pass, Trey Smack kicked four field goals and Florida’s defense dominated in a 33-8 victory over Tulane in the Gasparilla Bowl on Friday in Tampa, Fla.

Lagway completed 22 of 35 passes for 305 yards with two interceptions and improved to 6-1 as a starter as the Gators (8-5) won their fourth consecutive game.

The Gators allowed just 194 yards to the Green Wave (9-5), who lost their third consecutive game. Florida had three interceptions of Ty Thompson, who completed 11 of 29 for 125 yards in his first college start in place of regular-season starter Darian Mensah, who transferred to Duke.

It was 9-0 Florida on three field goals after Smack kicked a 24-yarder with 9:11 left in the third quarter.

On the fourth play of the ensuing possession, Thompson was intercepted by Alfonzo Allen Jr., giving Florida the ball at its 40. Six plays later the Gators finally reached the end zone when Lagway’s 7-yard pass to Tony Livingston produced a touchdown and a 16-0 lead at the end of the third.

Florida got the ball back at the Tulane 47 when Thompson was stopped for a 2-yard loss on fourth and 2. Early in the fourth quarter, Smack kicked a 30-yard field goal that increased the lead to 19-0.

The Green Wave turned the ball over on downs again at their 34, and four plays later KD Daniels picked up Lagway’s fumble and advanced it 27 yards for a 26-0 lead.

Anthony Rubio rushed 9 yards for the Gators’ final touchdown with 1:11 remaining, and Thompson threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Mario Williams and added a two-point pass with 29 seconds left.

On Tulane’s first offensive play, Thompson was intercepted by Trikweze Bridges, leading to Smack’s 34-yard field goal and a 3-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.

On the second play of the second quarter, the Green Wave’s Patrick Durkin was wide right on a 35-yard field goal attempt and the Gators drove to Smack’s 44-yard field goal and a 6-0 halftime lead.

–Field Level Media

Nov 28, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Tulane Green Wave quarterback Ty Thompson (7) throws before a game against the Memphis Tigers at Yulman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images

Backup QB guides Tulane into Gasparilla Bowl vs. Florida

Florida wasn’t always sure it was going to win enough games to become bowl-eligible.

Tulane flirted with the possibility of playing its way into the College Football Playoff.

Eventually a late-season surge by the Gators (7-5) and consecutive losses by the Green Wave (9-4) landed them both in the Gasparilla Bowl on Friday in Tampa.

Florida, which failed to make a bowl game at 5-7 last season, dropped two of its first three games this year, falling to then-No. 19 Miami and Texas A&M. The results led to early-season speculation that third-year coach Billy Napier might not make it to the end of the season, let alone coach a fourth season.

However, when the Gators reached 4-4 after being competitive in losses to then-No. 8 Tennessee and then-No. 2 Georgia, athletic director Scott Stricklin said Napier would continue as head coach.

After losing the next game to then-No. 5 Texas, the Gators improved over the final three games behind freshman quarterback DJ Lagway. Florida swept those three contests, defeating then-No. 21 LSU 27-16, then-No. 9 Ole Miss 24-17 and Florida State 31-11.

“We want to keep the momentum we have,” Napier said.

Lagway, who is 5-1 as a starter and has passed for 1,610 yards with 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions, is expected to start against Tulane. He has been hampered by a hamstring injury sustained against Georgia on Nov. 2, an injury that kept him out against the Longhorns.

Napier doesn’t expect a significant number of absences due to opt-outs.

“We talk a lot in terms of, it doesn’t matter who the opponent is, where we’re playing, what time we’re playing, who’s available,” Napier said. “It’s kind of become part of our DNA. When they put the ball down and kick the thing off, we’ll be ready to go.”

Tulane, which won eight consecutive games before losing 34-24 at home to Memphis on Nov. 28 and 35-14 at Army in the American Athletic Conference championship game on Dec. 6, hasn’t been as fortunate with its quarterback situation.

Redshirt freshman Darian Mensah, who unexpectedly won the starting position during preseason camp and helped lead the Green Wave to as high as the No. 17 spot in the CFP rankings, entered the transfer portal after the loss to Army and committed to Duke.

Kai Horton also departed through the portal, leaving former Oregon five-star signee Ty Thompson as the starter and only experienced quarterback for the bowl game. This will be his first college start, but he did play in 11 games this season as a wildcat change of pace to Mensah.

Thompson averaged 6.1 yards on 40 rushes, scoring six touchdowns, and completed 6 of 11 passes for 74 yards and two touchdowns without an interception.

“I’m really, really blessed for this opportunity,” Thompson said. “I’ve prayed for this since I was 17 and showed up in college.”

Thompson has indicated he might leave via the portal as well, but he is sticking around to face the Gators.

“His response (to not winning the starting job) says a lot about who he is,” Tulane coach Jon Sumrall said of Thompson. “He wanted to be the guy and wasn’t, so he could have either tanked it or pushed on to get better. He really handled it the right way.”

Thompson figures to have top receiver Mario Williams and top rusher Makhi Hughes available.

–Field Level Media

Nov 16, 2024; Annapolis, Maryland, USA;  Tulane Green Wave quarterback Darian Mensah (10) scores a touchdown during the first half against the Navy Midshipmen at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

Former Tulane QB Darian Mensah transferring to Duke

Former Tulane quarterback Darian Mensah said he is transferring to Duke.

The top-ranked player in ESPN’s transfer portal rankings confirmed his decision Wednesday with ESPN.

Mensah, who visited the Durham, N.C., campus on Tuesday, said he was impressed by Duke coach Manny Diaz.

“He gets you going; he’s legit,” Mensah told ESPN. “They have a legit defensive line. He’ll take this team as far as we want to go.”

Mensah guided the Green Wave to the American Athletic Conference title game as a redshirt freshman this season.

Tulane (9-4) reached No. 18 in the College Football Playoff rankings before ending the season with consecutive losses. The Green Wave face Florida (7-5) in the Gasparilla Bowl on Dec. 20.

Mensah has three years of eligibility remaining. He completed 189 of 287 passes (65.9 percent) for 2,723 yards with 22 touchdowns and six interceptions, adding 132 rushing yards and a score.

He is now in line to replace record-setting Blue Devils quarterback Maalik Murphy, who also entered the portal after the regular season. Duke (9-3) will take on Ole Miss (9-3) in the Gator Bowl on Jan. 2.

Mensah said the chance to earn a Duke diploma factored in his decision.

“It’s a prestigious university, and a great education is also important to me,” Mensah said. “It’s just a family out here. I wanted to be part of that.”

–Field Level Media

Nov 16, 2024; Annapolis, Maryland, USA;  Tulane Green Wave quarterback Darian Mensah (10) rush for a touchdown during the first half against the Navy Midshipmen at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

Duke to host Tulane QB Darian Mensah

First-time starting quarterback Darian Mensah had nine wins for a team ranked in the Top 25 part of the season, but he’s in the transfer portal with a reported visit to Duke tops on his list.

ESPN reported Mensah would visit Duke on Tuesday.

Mensah, who tops the list of available transfer quarterbacks at ESPN and 247 Sports, potentially would replace record-setting Blue Devils quarterback Maalik Murphy. Murphy entered the transfer portal after leading Duke to a 9-3 record.

Mensah has three years of eligibility remaining. He completed 189 of 287 passes (65.9 percent) for 2,723 yards with 22 touchdowns and six interceptions, adding 132 rushing yards and a score.

As a redshirt freshman at Tulane in 2024, Mensah guided the Green Wave to the American Athletic Conference championship game. He was first in the conference in average yards per pass (9.5) and completion percentage.

Tulane (9-4) reached No. 18 in the College Football Playoff rankings before ending the season with consecutive losses. The Green Wave face Florida (7-5) in the Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl on Dec. 20.

Murphy started two games at Texas in 2023 when Quinn Ewers was injured while holding off then-freshman backup Arch Manning.

Murphy was 254-of-421 passing for 2,933 yards, 26 TDs and 12 interceptions with the Blue Devils.

–Field Level Media

Sep 14, 2024; Norman, Oklahoma, USA;  Tulane Green Wave head coach Jon Sumrall reacts during the first half against the Oklahoma Sooners at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

Tulane extends contract of head coach Jon Sumrall

Tulane head coach Jon Sumrall has reached an agreement with the school on a contract extension after leading the Green Wave to the conference championship game in his first season.

Sumrall had been linked to multiple Power 4 coaching openings but informed Tulane on Sunday night of his decision to stay put.

“After working with him and his staff for the past year, I’m convinced that Jon is the right leader at the right time for our football program,” Tulane athletic director David Harris said in a statement Monday. “He brings an incredible combination of leadership, passing, competitive spirit and care for our student-athletes to the job each day.”

The Green Wave are 9-4 heading into their Gasparilla Bowl appearance against Florida on Dec. 20. They lost to Army, 35-14, in the American Athletic Championship game on Friday.

Tulane hired Sumrall almost exactly one year ago after he guided Troy to a 23-4 record in his two seasons as head coach. Sumrall was the Sun Belt Coach of the Year in 2022 and won his second straight conference championship with Troy in 2023.

Sumrall was a linebacker at Kentucky from 2002-04 before working as an assistant coach at San Diego, Tulane, Troy, Ole Miss and his alma mater. He was Kentucky’s co-defensive coordinator in 2021 before taking the job at Troy.

–Field Level Media

Dec 6, 2024; West Point, NY, USA; Army Black Knights quarterback Bryson Daily (13) carries the ball against the Tulane Green Wave during the first half at Michie Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Danny Wild-Imagn Images

Bryson Daily (4 TDs), No. 24 Army pound Tulane in AAC title game

Bryson Daily scored four rushing touchdowns to lead No. 24 Army to a 35-14 win over Tulane on Friday in the American Athletic Conference title game in West Point, N.Y.

In the Black Knights’ first season in the AAC, Daily set a league record for rushing touchdowns in a season (29). However, the Army quarterback, who gained 126 yards on the ground, was hardly alone in his rushing prowess, as teammate Kanye Udoh accumulated 158 yards and a touchdown. As a team, Army rushed for 335 yards.

Army (11-1) will ride plenty of momentum into its annual showdown with Navy in Landover, Md., on Dec. 14.

Meanwhile, Tulane (9-4) will await its bowl fate after its second straight lopsided defeat. Darian Mensah threw for 209 yards and two touchdowns for the Green Wave, who could not overcome a variety of miscues on special teams.

Tulane drove inside the red zone on the game’s opening possession, but Brice Busch failed to get the hold down on a field-goal attempt, leading to a big loss on fourth down. Eleven plays later, Army got into the end zone on Daily’s 5-yard TD run.

The Green Wave once again had a chance to dent the scoreboard on their next possession, but Mensah was sacked on third down and Patrick Durkin missed a 38-yard field-goal attempt.

Two plays later, Udoh uncorked a 72-yard run that set up Daily’s 3-yard TD plunge for a 14-0 lead.

Tulane fumbled the ensuing kickoff, as Army kicker Trey Gronotte forced a fumble by Rayshawn Pleasant that was recovered by Tommy Zitiello. The Black Knights couldn’t cash in on that possession, but Mensah was intercepted by Andon Thomas shortly thereafter, giving Army another short field.

This time, the Black Knights made them pay as Daily’s 4-yard TD run made it 21-0.

Tulane finally got on the board with 44 seconds left in the half as Mensah found Mario Williams for a 42-yard touchdown pass.

However, any potential momentum from that late score ended when Army took the first possession of the second half 75 yards for a touchdown. Daily provided the exclamation point with a 7-yard TD run.

Udoh’s 1-yard TD run with 6:29 left in the contest pushed the lead to 35-7 before Tulane got into the end zone with 70 seconds to play.

–Field Level Media

Nov 30, 2024; West Point, New York, USA; Army Black Knights quarterback Bryson Daily (13) celebrates a 29-24 win against the UTSA Roadrunners at Michie Stadium. The victory clinched home field advantage for the American Athletic Conference championship game against Tulane. Mandatory Credit: Danny Wild-Imagn Images

No. 24 Army looks to win first AAC title vs. Tulane

Army and Tulane were both on the College Football Playoff radar recently.

The Black Knights were as high as No. 19 in the CFP rankings before a 49-14 loss to Notre Dame on Nov. 23 in New York.

The Green Wave were No. 17 before losing at home to Memphis 34-24 on Thanksgiving night.

No. 24 Army (10-1, 8-0 American Athletic Conference) and Tulane (9-3, 7-1) won’t be going to the CFP, but both still have a lot to play for when they meet in the AAC championship game on Friday night in West Point, N.Y.

The Black Knights have an opportunity to win the title in their first season in the conference before they have their traditional season-ending game against Navy next week.

“This is a new experience for our guys,” Army coach Jeff Monken said.

This matchup was set two weeks ago, though the site wasn’t determined until Tulane lost to Memphis and the Black Knights defeated visiting UTSA 29-24 two days later.

Army quarterback Bryson Daily had his ninth consecutive 100-yard rushing game, leading the nation’s top ground game (312.5 yards per game).

But Army, which is last in the country in passing yards per game (89.2), needed season highs of 17 attempts, 10 completions and 190 yards from Daily to beat the Roadrunners. Daily’s passing was a key reason his team was successful on 8 of 17 third downs and 4 of 5 fourth downs.

“We would not have won the football game if we had not been able to convert on third and fourth downs,” Monken said. “We’re a running football team and we want to be good at that and that’s how we’ve gotten positioned where we are. But I’m glad we were able to make some plays (in the passing game).”

Tulane will be looking to get running back Makhi Hughes back on track after he was held to season lows of nine carries, 15 yards and a 1.7-yard average by Memphis.

Green Wave coach Jon Sumrall is focused on the opportunity that remains and not the one that slipped away.

“You can’t let one (loss) become two,” Sumrall said. “We’re thrilled to still be playing football. There are nine FBS conference championship games and that means there are 18 teams playing in a conference championship game this weekend.

“This opportunity is special. It doesn’t come around (for everyone). There are 14 teams in our conference and two get to play in this game and our guys earned that opportunity.”

This is the third consecutive season that the Green Wave have played in the American title game. They hosted the last two, beating UCF two years ago before losing to SMU in 2023.

Sumrall, who was hired away from Troy to replace Willie Fritz after Fritz left for Houston at the end of last season, didn’t experience those other championship appearances, but some of his players did.

“The majority of our team hasn’t won a conference championship,” Sumrall said, “but there’s some carryover at least in knowing what this moment is like and being mentally focused on what it takes to win the game. Experience is always a good thing to have on your side.”

–Field Level Media

Nov 28, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Memphis Tigers running back Greg Desrosiers Jr. (13) breaks away from Tulane Green Wave linebacker Chris Rodgers (4) finishing off the play with a touchdown during the second quarter at Yulman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images

Memphis snaps No. 17 Tulane’s eight-game winning streak

Greg Desrosiers Jr. caught two touchdown passes and ran for another score as Memphis defeated No. 17 Tulane 34-24 on Thursday night in New Orleans.

Desrosiers — who had two touchdown receptions and one rushing touchdown for the season entering the game — finished with eight catches for 84 yards and rushed six times for 41 yards as the Tigers (10-2, 6-2 American Athletic Conference) won 10 games in two consecutive seasons for the first time in school history.

Seth Henigan completed 22 of 29 passes for 218 yards and became the American’s all-time leader in career passing yards. Mario Anderson Jr. added 177 yards and a touchdown on 24 rushes.

Memphis held Makhi Hughes, who was eighth in the country with 1,291 rushing yards, to 15 yards on nine rushes and the Green Wave (9-3, 7-1) saw their eight-game winning streak end. They will face Army in the American title game Dec. 6.

Darian Mensah completed 21 of 33 throws for 317 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. That was one of three turnovers for Tulane, which didn’t take the ball away.

Desrosiers ran 29 yards for a touchdown on Memphis’ first possession of the second half, increasing the Tigers’ lead to 24-10. On the first play of the fourth quarter, Tristian Vandenberg’s 23-yard field goal increased the lead to 27-10.

Arnold Barnes III’s 2-yard touchdown run cut the lead to 27-17, but Anderson had a 47-yard touchdown sprint before Mensah threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Shazz Preston with 1:08 to go.

Tulane had allowed a total of nine points in its last three games, but on this game’s first possession Henigan threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Desrosiers.

Patrick Durkin kicked a 44-yard field goal and Mensah threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Mario Williams, who finished with 130 yards on seven catches, to give Tulane a 10-7 lead at the end of the first quarter.

On the first possession of the second quarter, Desrosiers caught a short pass from Henigan and turned it into a 25-yard touchdown. Vandenberg’s 28-yard field goal increased the lead to 17-10 at halftime.

–Field Level Media

Nov 16, 2024; Annapolis, Maryland, USA; Tulane Green Wave running back Makhi Hughes (21) scores in front of Navy Midshipmen safety Kenneth McShan (0) during the second half  at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

No. 17 Tulane meets Memphis, eyes playoff berth

Tulane has a chance to sneak into the 12-team College Football Playoff.

It’s a long shot, but it’s possible as the No. 17 Green Wave (9-2, 7-0 American Athletic Conference) face Memphis (9-2, 5-2) on Thursday night in New Orleans.

Tulane would have to beat the Tigers, top Army in the American title game on Dec. 6, and get some help.

“I don’t understand all the formulas and scenarios,” Green Wave first-year head coach Jon Sumrall said, “but if you tell me this team losing helps Tulane, then I pull for them to lose.”

But Sumrall, who was 23-4 in two seasons as head coach at Troy before joining Tulane, knows nothing else matters if his team doesn’t take care of its own business.

The Green Wave have won eight games in a row after consecutive September losses to Kansas State, which was No. 17 at the time, and then-No. 15 Oklahoma.

“We’re in the middle of a pretty good run,” Sumrall said. “This game has a lot of meaning. At this point in November, every game is a playoff game. This game is the most important game of the year. But we can’t focus on the implications of this game. It’s so much more, how do you play a good game?”

Tulane needs a win Thursday in order to host the American championship game for a third consecutive season. The Green Wave split the previous two appearances, winning its first conference title of any kind since 1998 in 2022 before coming up short last season.

The Green Wave have allowed a total of just nine points in their last three games, including a 35-0 victory at Navy in their most recent game on Nov. 16.

“The cohesion (on defense) has kicked in as time has gone on,” Sumrall said.

Tulane, which has tied a league record with 17 consecutive regular-season wins against American Athletic Conference opponents, is one of the most balanced teams in the country.

The Green Wave have two shutouts, have held four opponents to single-digit scoring, and lead the country with six defensive touchdowns.

Tulane averages 227.1 rushing yards behind Makhi Hughes, who is eighth in the country with 1,291 yards, and averages 207.3 passing yards behind efficient redshirt freshman Darian Mensah.

Memphis, which is coming off a 53-18 victory over UAB on Nov. 16, has one of the most experienced quarterbacks in the country in Seth Henigan, whose four touchdown passes against UAB gave him 100 in his four seasons at the school.

“It’s been fun to stick with a young man who has stuck with our program,” Tigers coach Ryan Silverfield said. “He had opportunities to go other places. It’s been a win-win for everybody. That loyalty is rare in this day and age of college football.”

A victory over Tulane would give Memphis back-to-back 10-win seasons for the first time in school history.

“Winning 10 games in college football is very, very difficult,” Silverfield said. “I don’t care where you’re at. I don’t care if you’re at Oregon, Ohio State, anywhere. Winning 10 games is very hard, and doing it two years in a row means you’re sustaining success.”

–Field Level Media