- - Tulane football rankings: Can Green Wave make CFP after winning American?

Austin Curtright, USA TODAY NETWORK December 6, 2025 at 6:13 AM

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Tulane football rankings: Can Green Wave make CFP after winning American?

Tulane took down North Texas with ease in the American Conference championship game on Friday, Dec. 5 — and made program history in the process.

The No. 21 Green Wave (No. 20 in College Football Playoff rankings) defeated the No. 20 Mean Green (No. 24 CFP) 34-21 at home. The win puts Tulane in strong position to earn its first CFP appearance in program history.

REQUIRED READING: Tulane vs North Texas highlights: Green Wave win American championship

The Green Wave rushed for 199 yards and three scores on 52 carries as a team. Quarterback Jake Retzlaff passed for 145 yards and rushed for 49 yards and two touchdowns in the win.

Perhaps more impressively is the fact Tulane held star North Texas quarterback Drew Mestemaker in check, with the redshirt freshman completing 21 of 34 passes for 294 yards with two touchdowns to three interceptions. The Green Wave forced five turnovers, including a pick-6 by Chris Rodgers in the third quarter.

The question now is whether Tulane can leverage that win to reach the CFP with its conference championship win? Here's a look at the Green Wave's chances:

Tulane football rankings: Can Green Wave make CFP?

Tulane put itself in strong position to earn one of the five conference championship bids in the 12-team CFP bracket on Dec. 5.

North Texas and Tulane entered the matchup as the two highest-ranked non-Power Four teams in the CFP rankings, with No. 25 James Madison behind the two American programs. With Tulane picking up a ranked win in the American title game, it should have no issues staying ahead of the Dukes in the rankings.

James Madison could still make the CFP, although it likely needs Duke to beat Virginia in the ACC championship game. If JMU stays ranked higher than the Blue Devils, then two non-Power Four teams would make the CFP as the final two highest-ranked conference champions.

North Texas vs. Tulane was essentially a CFP play-in game, with the Green Wave likely moving on to compete for a national championship as the No. 11 or 12 seed.

REQUIRED READING: How UNT QB Drew Mestemaker went from high school backup to nation's leading passer

Tulane football schedule 2025 -

Saturday, Aug. 30: Tulane 23, Northwestern 3

Saturday, Sept. 6: Tulane 33, South Alabama 31

Saturday, Sept. 13: Tulane 34, Duke 27

Saturday, Sept. 20: Mississippi 45, Tulane 10

Saturday, Sept. 27: Tulane 31, Tulsa 14 *

Saturday, Oct. 4: BYE

Thursday, Oct. 9: Tulane 26, East Carolina 19 *

Saturday, Oct. 18: Tulane 24, Army 17 *

Saturday, Oct. 25: BYE

Thursday, Oct. 30: UTSA 48, Tulane 26 *

Friday, Nov. 7: Tulane 38, Memphis 32 *

Saturday, Nov. 15: Tulane 35, Florida Atlantic 24 *

Saturday, Nov. 22: Tulane 37, Temple 13 *

Saturday, Nov. 29: Tulane 27, Charlotte 0 *

Friday, Dec. 5: Tulane vs North Texas | ABC, 8 p.m. **

* indicates American Conference game

** indicates American Conference championship

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Can Tulane make CFP? Playoff chances for American Conference champion

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