How did Tulane's Opponents Fare in Week Two?

BY JAKE WEINSTOCK

Tulane played about as poorly as possible through the first half of the first quarter, Saturday, and had some leakiness late, all en route to escaping Mobile with a 33-31 win over South Alabama. Back by popular demand (thank you for your feedback!) we look ahead to what the rest of the season holds in store for the Green Wave, starting with this coming Saturday night, where Tulane has opened as a 3.5 point home favorite against the visiting Duke Blue Devils and Darian Mensah (Yulman Stadium, 7:00 p.m. CT, ESPN2, 106.7 The Ticket).

Northwestern (lost to Tulane 23-3 in week 1)

After getting rather dominated by Tulane to open the season, the Wildcats took out their frustrations on lowly Western Illinois, who hail from the FCS. Preston Stone found slightly (sarcastic font) more success against the Leathernecks (and no, I did not make that up. Google it) than he did against the Wave, finishing 21/29 for 245 yards, 3 touchdowns and a sparkling passer rating of 132.1. Northwestern now travels to Oregon as a 27.5 point underdog, before an early week 4 bye.

vs. Duke (1-1), September 13, 2025

The Blue Devils, quarterbacked by old friend Darian Mensah, lost 42-19 at home to Illinois, despite being only a 2.5 point underdog. I'd advise against drawing too many conclusions from that final score, however, as Duke outgained Illinois and had a higher net-success rate over the course of the game. They did, however, lose the turnover differential 5-0, and that's where the final score comes from; Illinois scored 28 points off of turnovers, including touchdown "drives" of 18 and 23 yards.

@ Ole Miss (2-0), September 20, 2025

Despite trailing 10-0 and then being knotted up at 20-20 midway through the third quarter, Ole Miss ended up pulling away from Kentucky to get out of Lexington with an SEC road win, 30-23. The Rebels generated a staggering 457 yards of offense, a tough number to contemplate, given what we just witnessed in Mobile. Ole Miss will host Arkansas, against whom they are favored by 8 points, before Tulane makes their week 4 trip to Oxford.

@ Tulsa (1-1), September 27, 2025

Well, after my nice compliments following the Golden Hurricane's start to the season, they promptly lost 21-14 at home to New Mexico State, despite being a 3.5 point favorite. Tulsa led 14-13 before surrendering what turned out to be the game-winning touchdown with just over 3 minutes to play. They will host Navy as a 14 point underdog and then travel to Oklahoma State, before the Green Wave make their first trip to Tulsa since 2022.

vs. East Carolina (1-1), October 9, 2025

The Pirates pounded FCS Campbell over the weekend, 56-3, after opening the season with that tough loss to NC State. They outgained the Fighting Camels (nope, I didn't make that one up, either) 535 to 151, and now make the short trip to Coastal Carolina where they've opened as a 7.5 point underdog. They'll get BYU and Army at home before a full 14 days off ahead of their trip to New Orleans (the Army game is on Thursday 9/25). Tulane will have 12 days off before that one, with the same week 6 bye.

vs. Army (1-1), October 18, 2025

Never underestimate the intestinal fortitude of the United States armed forces, I suppose. After a shocking loss to FCS Tarleton State in week one, the Black Knights went into Manhattan, Kansas as a 17 point underdog to the 17th ranked Kansas State Wildcats and emerged victorious, 24-21. They controlled the clock and limited the Wildcats to just 6 possessions. They're on a well-deserved bye this week, before they host North Texas, the weekend following.

@ UTSA (0-2), October 30, 2025

The Roadrunners dropped a shootout at home to upstart Texas State, under rising head coach GJ Kinne, 43-36. UTSA was favored by 4.5, but ultimately couldn't match the Bobcats touchdown to break the 36-36. They now should pick up their first win of the year as Incarnate Ward travels to the Alamodome, and then travel to Colorado State, before a week 5 bye.

@ Memphis (2-0), November 7, 2025

The Tigers demolished Georgia State in Atlanta on Saturday, 38-16. They actually trailed 16-14 shortly before halftime, but dominated from then on. Georgia State was quarterbacked by none other than TJ Finley, less than a week after his arrival on campus. Memphis now travels to Troy as a 4.5 point favorite and then hosts Arkansas, before a late September trip down to Boca Raton, where the Tigers will open conference play against Florida Atlantic.

vs. FAU (1-1), November 15, 2025

The Owls bounced back from getting bludgeoned by Maryland to smoke Florida A&M 56-14 in Boca. FAU generated over 550 yards of offense and didn't turn the ball over, en route to their first victory of this young season. They now play road underdogs down the road in Miami against Florida International (+2.5) before a bye ahead of the above-mentioned conference opener with Memphis.

@ Temple (2-0), November 22, 2025

The Owls continue to take advantage of some favorable scheduling and blasted Howard at Lincoln Financial Field, 55-7. Not much to take away from that one, but putting up 400+ more yards than any opponent is impressive, nonetheless. They now host Oklahoma on Saturday morning, against whom the market has made them a 23.5 point underdog. Thereafter, they travel to Georgia Tech in Atlanta to round out non-conference play before their American Conference opener back home against UTSA.

vs. Charlotte (0-2), November 29, 2025

The Niners had about as much success against the fighting Jordon Hudsons as the fighting Jordon Hudsons did the week before in their blowout loss to TCU. We're speaking of course of North Carolina, coached by Bill Belichick, who beat Charlotte 20-3 in Charlotte. The Niners were only outgained by 31 yards, by lost the turnover battle 2-0 and couldn't overcome three three-and-outs and a missed field goal among their five possessions in the first half. They now host Monmouth (FCS) and Rice, before a week 5 bye.