College football has changed. We have NIL deals and transfer portals that look more like free agency than "amateur" sports. But some things? Honestly, they just stay the same. The Memphis Tigers football vs Tulane Green Wave football rivalry is one of those things. It’s gritty. It’s southern. It’s often played on a Friday night when the air in Memphis or New Orleans feels like a damp wool blanket.
If you caught the game this past November, you saw exactly why this matchup is a "must-watch" for anyone who actually likes football—not just the glossy highlights on national TV.
The Night the Wave Crashed the Party
Let's talk about November 7, 2025. Memphis was rolling. They were ranked No. 22 in the country, sitting pretty as the top-ranked Group of Five team. People were already talking about the College Football Playoff. The Liberty Bowl (now Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium) was packed with over 30,000 fans.
Then Jake Retzlaff happened.
Tulane’s quarterback decided he didn't care about the Tigers' 11-game home winning streak. On the very first play from scrimmage, he launched a 65-yard bomb to Shazz Preston. Boom. 7-0. It took nine seconds.
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That’s how this rivalry goes. It’s a track meet one year and a fistfight the next. Tulane ended up taking a massive 35-17 lead into the locker room at halftime. Retzlaff was nearly perfect, hitting 14 of 15 passes in the first half. You don't see that often in the AAC.
The Memphis Fightback
But you can’t ever count out a Ryan Silverfield team at home. Memphis is stubborn. Brendon Lewis, the Tigers’ quarterback, was playing through some sort of injury—basically a gametime decision—but he stayed out there. He threw for 317 yards.
The Tigers clawed back. They put up 15 points in the fourth quarter. It got down to 38-32. The stadium was shaking. But Tulane’s defense, led by Makai Williams and his 10 tackles, finally held firm. A failed fourth-and-8 from the Tulane 35-yard line with two minutes left effectively killed the Tigers’ playoff dreams.
It was a heartbreaker for the 901. But for Tulane? It was their first win over a ranked opponent as an unranked team since 1984. That’s huge.
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A Series That Goes Back Decades
Believe it or not, these two first met back in 1954. That game ended in a 13-13 tie. Very "old school" football. Since then, Memphis has generally had the upper hand, holding a 25-16-1 lead in the all-time series.
- The 1990s and 2000s: Memphis went on some dominant runs. Between 2002 and 2017, the Tigers won 11 straight games.
- The Tide Turns: Since 2018, things have leveled out significantly. They’ve split the last ten matchups 5-5.
- The Margin: The biggest blowout was a 49-7 Memphis win in 1999. But usually? It’s much tighter.
Tulane’s recent resurgence under Jon Sumrall (and Willie Fritz before him) has turned this into a "circle the calendar" game. Sumrall is currently 14-3 against AAC programs. The guy knows how to win in this league.
Why This Game is Different
Most people talk about the "Battle for the Bones" (Memphis vs. UAB) or Tulane’s "Battle for the Rag" with LSU. But Memphis vs. Tulane is the "Professional’s Rivalry."
It’s often a chess match between two coaching staffs that are trying to prove they belong in the Power 4. You’ve got the high-flying "Air Raid" concepts meeting traditional "Ground and Pound." In the 2025 game, Tulane actually out-rushed Memphis 125 to 67. That was the difference.
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Coach Silverfield admitted after the loss that they gave up too many explosive plays. That’s the danger of the Green Wave. They wait for you to blink, and then they're 60 yards downfield.
Key Players to Remember
When you're looking back at the 2024 and 2025 seasons, a few names stand out.
- Jake Retzlaff (QB, Tulane): The man who threw for 332 yards and 3 TDs in Memphis.
- Brendon Lewis (QB, Memphis): A warrior who kept the Tigers in it despite being hobbled.
- Shazz Preston (WR, Tulane): Two touchdowns in the 2025 game. He’s a problem for secondaries.
- Cortez Braham Jr. (WR, Memphis): He had 113 yards in that November loss. He's a vertical threat every single snap.
What’s Next for Both Programs?
Memphis just went through a major change. They hired Charles Huff as the new head coach in December 2025. That’s a massive hire. Huff comes in with a reputation for elite recruiting. He’s the guy tasked with taking the Tigers from "really good AAC team" to "CFP contender."
Tulane, meanwhile, is trying to maintain its spot as the "New Standard" of the conference. They’ve won 21 of their last 23 regular-season conference games. That is an insane level of consistency.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're planning on betting or just watching the next time these two meet, keep these things in mind:
- The First Quarter Matters: Since 2022, the Green Wave are 33-4 when they score first. If they get an early lead, they are very hard to catch.
- Watch the Sacks: In the last meeting, Tulane’s defense racked up six sacks. Memphis struggled to protect the pocket once they became one-dimensional.
- Home Field is Real: Before the 2025 loss, Memphis had an 11-game home winning streak. They are notoriously tough to beat at the Liberty Bowl.
Keep an eye on the transfer portal this spring. With Charles Huff taking over at Memphis, expect a lot of roster movement. The next chapter of Memphis Tigers football vs Tulane Green Wave football is going to look a lot different, but the intensity isn't going anywhere.