Most teams would fold after taking a one-two punch like the one experienced earlier this year.
When Darian Mensah and Makhi Hughes left for Duke and Oregon, respectively, via the transfer portal, they took most of the Tulane offense with them. Add in nine other starters or key backups who transferred, and the attrition was staggering from last year’s 9-5 team.
But Jon Sumrall remains indefatigable. The second-year Tulane coach refused to whine about the circumstances and spent the offseason reloading his strip-mined roster.
The Green Wave will have 17 new starters this season. Among them are several notable transfers, including quarterback Jake Retzlaff, running back Maurice Turner, center Jack Hollifield, and edge rushers Santana Hopper and Maurice Westmoreland. They’re part of an offseason overhaul that saw 60 new players join the Green Wave from a year ago.
"There’s some uncertainty, but I got a lot of confidence in this team,” Sumrall said. “I have hope because I like our ability. This team is every bit as good as the bunch we had last year.”
Despite the heavy turnover, the Green Wave is favored to win the American Conference. That’s a vote of confidence to Sumrall, who has proven to be a skilled recruiter and capable roster builder in the NIL era.
Time to check the crystal ball to see what this season holds for the Green Wave:
Week 1 vs. Northwestern, Aug. 30
If you’re wondering when the last Big Ten team played at Tulane it was 1955, when Tulane beat Northwestern 21-0 at Tulane Stadium. In fact, Tulane is 3-1 all-time against Northwestern. The Wildcats should be improved from last year’s 4-8 team. They stocked up in the transfer portal and will have a familiar face at quarterback in Preston Stone, who transferred from SMU this offseason. Still, the Green Wave is 5.5-point favorites for a reason. Tulane 23, Northwestern 16
Week 2 at South Alabama, Sept. 6
The Green Wave will need to avoid a letdown because South Alabama will be no walkover. The Jaguars have recorded three consecutive winning seasons, and second-year coach Major Applewhite knows how to restock a roster. The Jaguars should be 1-0 after opening against Mercer, and this will be a potential statement game for their program. The last time Tulane traveled to Mobile, the Wave escaped with a 27-24 win after scoring 21 unanswered points in the final 20 minutes. Expect a similar dogfight. Tulane 28, South Alabama 27
Week 3 vs. Duke, Sept. 13
Mensah returns to Yulman Stadium just nine months after jilting Tulane for greener pastures — pun intended — in the ACC. The Blue Devils made Mensah an offer he couldn’t refuse, but rest assured, Green Wave fans will not roll out the welcome wagon for him. Expectations are sky high for the Blue Devils, who won nine games in coach Manny Diaz’s first season. They believe Mensah can be the catalyst to take their offense to the next level. This figures to be a battle to the end. Duke 26, Tulane 24
Week 4 at Ole Miss, Sept. 20
The Wave won’t have time to lick its wounds. Ole Miss is ranked No. 21 in the nation, and the Rebels have won 13 of their past 14 home games. The last time Tulane played at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, it left with a 61-21 thumping, the program’s worst loss in years. The game — sandwiched between SEC home games against Arkansas and LSU for Ole Miss — comes at a good time for Tulane, which will put a scare in the Rebels. Ole Miss 30, Tulane 20
Week 5 at Tulsa, Sept. 27
The Golden Hurricane is the perfect get-right opponent. Tulsa is coming off a 3-9 season and has a first-year coach in Tre Lamb. The Golden Hurricane likely will be riding a two-game losing streak after it plays Navy and Oklahoma State in the previous two weeks. Tulane 31, Tulsa 17
Week 6, bye week
Week 7 vs. East Carolina, Oct. 9
Fresh from the bye, the Wave welcomes the Pirates to Yulman for a Thursday night game on ESPN. ECU is a dangerous opponent. The Pirates won four of their final five games last season and knocked off NC State in the Military Bowl. Pirates quarterback Caitin Houser and all-conference receiver Anthony Smith will get theirs, but they won’t be able to keep up with Retzlaff and a Wave offense starting to find its groove. Tulane 36, East Carolina 24
Week 8 vs. Army, Oct. 18
Motivation shouldn’t be a problem for the Green Wave in this one. Army handed Tulane its most humbling loss of the season a year ago, a nationally televised 35-14 beatdown at West Point in early December. Rest assured, Sumrall will have his team breathing fire for the rematch. The task will be easier with QB Bryson Daily graduated and gone from the Army lineup. Tulane 28, Army 16
Week 9, bye
Week 10 at Texas-San Antonio, Oct. 30
Another Thursday night, this time on the road. UTSA has won 11 of its last 12 games at the Alamo Dome. Thanks to a cushy early schedule, the Roadrunners should be no worse than 5-2 by this time. UTSA coach Jeff Traylor will have his team psyched for the rare nationally televised home game, and the Roadrunners win on a late Owen McCown TD pass. UTSA 31, Tulane 28
Week 11 at Memphis, Nov. 7
Another week, another non-Saturday, prime-time game — and a big one. Memphis and Tulane regularly have battled for league supremacy over the years, and this season should be no different. Like Tulane, Memphis will rely on a lot of new faces. In a battle of evenly matched teams, it often comes down to quarterback play. Tulane has the decided edge there with Retzlaff over Brendon Lewis, who is replacing longtime Memphis starter Seth Henigan. Tulane 28, Memphis 24
Week 12 vs. Florida Atlantic, Nov. 15
Fresh off the emotional road win at Memphis, the Wave can’t afford to take FAU lightly. The Owls are expected to be one of the American’s most improved teams and are led by 2024 Conference USA Player of the Year Caden Veltkamp, who passed for more than 3,100 yards with 25 touchdowns at Western Kentucky last season. Tulane survives. Tulane 27, Florida Atlantic 24
Week 13 at Temple, Nov. 22
The Wave’s first potential cold-weather game of the year is always a dangerous proposition for a warm-weather team like the Wave. But by this time, Temple should once again be playing out the string on a sixth consecutive losing season. The Wave rolls to a third straight win behind a dominant defensive effort. Tulane 26, Temple 6
Week 14 vs. Charlotte, Nov. 29
If things go as planned, a lot will be on the line in this one, like the American regular-season title and a chance to host the league championship game for the third time in four years. The 49ers have a new coach (Tim Albin) and new quarterback (Conner Harrell), but their prospects for a winning season remain remote. The 49ers have had only one winning season in their history and face the second-most daunting schedule of any Group of 5 team in the country. The Wave rolls. Tulane 41, Charlotte 13
American championship game vs. UTSA, Dec. 5
Sometimes things just work out. Not only does the Wave get the rematch against the lone American team to beat it, but it gets the Roadrunners at Yulman Stadium. A sellout crowd watches Retzlaff outduel McCown in a high-scoring thriller as Tulane records its second AAC championship game victory in four seasons. Tulane 37, UTSA 33
Birmingham Bowl vs. Auburn, Dec. 29
After losing out to Boise State for the CFP playoff spot, the Green Wave settles for a fourth consecutive bowl trip. It’ll be the Wave's second consecutive bowl game against an SEC team. This time, the Green Wave roster will be at full strength. Tulane 27, Auburn 24
Final record: 11-3