Tulane Green Wave 2025 College Football Preview
Posted June 24, 2025
2024 Recap
Record – 9-5
ATS – 8-5-1
The Green Wave started out 1-2 after back-to-back defeats at the hands of Power Four opponents Kansas St and Oklahoma, but then then got on a major HEATER winning eight games in a row. The last of those conquests was an absolute massacre of the Navy Midshipmen (won 35-CACK) that stamped their ticket to the AAC Championship Game. Tulane had to travel to face Army in the big game and they were ROLLED UP AND SMOKED by the Black Knights by a score of 35-14. The Wave ended the campaign with a loss to the Florida Gators in the Gasparilla Bowl (L 33-8) to finish at 9-5.
Tulane Green Wave 2025 Outlook
OFFENSE
Tulane had one of the deadliest (35 PPG, #16 FBS) and most balanced (196 YPG rush, 209 pass) attacks in the nation LY but they’re reloading BIGLY heading into the 2025 season. Former starting QB Darian Mensah will be tough to replace (66%, 22-6 TD to INT) but the good news is that the Wave added pair of doods capable of leading the offense in MAC Freshman of the Year QB Kadin Semonza (Ball St) and QB Brendan Sullivan who spent time at Iowa and Northwestern. We’re really interested to see how the QB battle goes over the summer because Semonza is a gunslinger whilst Sullivan can best be described as “an accurate, tough, and slippery weasel” ****. The rushing attack will miss star RB Makhi Hughes (1,401, 15 TD) in a big way but they backfilled nicely by scooping up RBs Maurice Turner (LUA-VUH) and Zuberi Mobley (FAU), and don’t forget that #2 RB Arnold Barnes (402, 6TD) is also in the mix. The biggest concern on offense relates to the THROW GAME targets as the Wave need to replace their top-three WRs and #1 TE. A small handful of transfers have been added to the room and it’ll be crucial for Tulane to hit on at least a couple of them if they wanna have a threatening passing attack. Keep your eye on highly-touted specimen Shazz Preston, FAU transfer Omari Hayes (590, 3 TD), and Kentucky transfer Anthony Brown-Stephens. The offensive line looks fine as the unit boasts a pair of all-AAC performers and it was nice to add center Jack Hollifield from Appalachian St to the roster.
**** Fact check: You betcha.
DEFENSE
The Wave played fine defense for the third consecutive season LY (#4 AAC run D; #1 pass efficiency D, 13-14 TD to INT) and the stop unit looks really good heading into 2025, particularly at the first two levels. The front is very deep and it features dangerous PENETRATORS such as DL Kameron Hamilton (4.5 sacks) and DE/OLB Mo Westmoreland who booked 15.5 sacks (!) with UTEP over the L2Y. Sam Howard (#2 tackles, 5.5 TFL) leads a solid LB corps and the only question on defense is probably the secondary after losing several key pieces from a unit that was really good in 2024. Safeties Bailey Despanie and Jack Tchienchou are a solid combo to build around but the Wave will need transfers to contribute significantly right away, especially at CB.
SPECIAL TEAMS
We’ll have to keep on eye on the kicking situation as Tulane needs to find a new PK and they picked up a new punter thru the portal in Alec Clark (Marshall). We’re very happy to report that Tulane retains their devastating KR Rayshawn Pleasant who ranked third in the nation in KR average (34.5) whilst returning TWO kickoffs to the HIZZY CRIBBY in 2024.
Schedule Analysis
Overall – It’s a wee bit tough. We don’t like their chances at Ole Miss and the other three non-conference games aren’t gimmes (Northwestern, Duke, at South Alabama). Tulane misses Navy on the set of AAC assignments but they’ve gotta face UTSA and Memphis on the road in back-to-back weeks. And that tasty pair of games follows a slugfest with Army. We’re not sure who in the administration upset the schedule maker, but here we are.
Potential ATS Trouble Spot – at South Alabama (Sept 6)
This game pops up between a pair (!) of home games vs Power Four opposition (Northwestern, Duke) so it might be difficult to have 100% focus on this one. Also note that the Jags will be looking to avenge the 37-17 loss at Tulane suffered in 2023.
Season Win Total
Market consensus June 24
Over 8.5 +100
Under 8.5 -130
MEGALOCKS says:
Lean: Under
This is still a talented outfit but it won’t be easy to hit nine or more wins with that schedule.
Note – Our official list of season win total investments will be posted in the blog section of the website.
MEGAmazing Tidbits
HC Jon Sumrall is a eye-popping 27-13-1 ATS (67.5%) over his coaching career with Troy and Tulane (8-5-1 LY).
The Green Wave have made THREE consecutive trips to the AAC Championship Game. They smoked UCF in 2022 but lost in 2023 (SMU) and in 2024 (Army).
How about that New Orleans JAILBREAK on May 16, 2025? 10 inmates escaped through a hole in the wall behind the toilet. No word on if they covered up the hole beforehand with a picture of RITA HAYWORTH or if MORGAN FREEMAN was involved. Our favorite part of the story is the writing on the wall left behind for the guards, “To Easy”. “Too easy” would have been awesome, but “TO EASY” is just 5th DIMENSIONAL CHESS. Two guys are still on the loose as we approach press time.
MEGALOCKS Forecast:
The Green Wave lost a TON of talent off last year’s excellent roster but they did a great job of restocking the cupboards. It may take a while for the new pieces on offense to gel but the defense should be solid right out of the gate. They’ve obviously got a real shot to make a FOURTH straight trip to the AAC Championship Game but we don’t believe they provide acceptable value as the clear favorite in the betting markets.