You really had to be there in the New Orleans rain to feel it. Watching Tulane vs North Texas on a screen just didn't capture the sheer intensity of that December night at Yulman Stadium. It wasn't just a game. It was a heavyweight fight for a ticket to the first ever 12-team College Football Playoff, and honestly, it was the kind of chaos that makes college football the best sport on the planet.
Most people expected a shootout. I mean, why wouldn't they? You had Drew Mestemaker, the North Texas freshman who basically spent the entire 2025 season breaking passing records, going up against a Tulane team that had finally found its rhythm under a new regime. But what we got was a defensive masterclass from the Green Wave and a series of "did that really just happen?" moments that left the Mean Green wondering what went wrong.
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Tulane won 34-21. That's the score for the history books. But the story is so much weirder than that.
The Night the Mean Green Machine Broke
North Texas came into the AAC Championship with an 11-1 record and an offense that felt like a video game. Mestemaker was the nation’s leading passer. They were scoring 30+ points in every single game like it was nothing. Then, they hit the "Green Wave Wall."
The game started exactly how UNT fans wanted. They marched 75 yards in 15 plays, looking unstoppable. Mestemaker found Tre Williams III for a 10-yard touchdown, and for about ten minutes, it looked like North Texas was going to run away with it. Then, the wheels didn't just come off—the whole car disintegrated.
Caleb Hawkins, the star running back for North Texas who had been a nightmare for defenses all year, got hit hard by Tulane safety Jack Tchienchou. He fumbled. He also hurt his shoulder. Losing Hawkins was basically the death knell for the UNT ground game. Without that balance, Tulane’s defensive coordinator Skylar Cassity pinned his ears back and went after Mestemaker.
They sacked him five times. Five. This is a guy who had only been sacked 10 times in all 11 of his wins combined. Tulane didn't just pressure him; they lived in his backfield.
Jack Tchienchou: The Giant Killer
If you’re looking for why Tulane won this game, you start and end with Jack Tchienchou. The kid was everywhere. He didn't just have a good game; he had a "I’m going to be a legend in New Orleans forever" game.
- He forced the fumble that knocked Hawkins out.
- He recovered a muffed punt late in the second quarter.
- He intercepted a pass in the end zone when UNT was on the 2-yard line.
That end-zone interception was the backbreaker. North Texas was down 24-7 but had first-and-goal. They were about to make it a game. Instead, Tchienchou snatches it, and the stadium literally shook. He ended up with nine tackles and three turnovers created. It’s no wonder he was named the Mike Aresco Most Outstanding Player.
The Jake Retzlaff Factor
On the other side of the ball, Tulane’s quarterback Jake Retzlaff—who some fans jokingly called the "Bayou Jew" after his transfer from BYU—wasn't flashy, but he was efficient. He didn't throw a single touchdown pass. Think about that. In a 34-point performance, the QB had zero passing TDs.
Instead, Retzlaff used his legs. He scored two rushing touchdowns, both on fourth-down plays. That takes guts. Most coaches would kick the field goal, but Tulane kept pushing. Jamauri McClure was the real workhorse, though, racking up 121 yards on 22 carries. He’s a physical runner who just wears you down. By the fourth quarter, the North Texas defenders looked like they’d been chasing a freight train.
The most bizarre moment of the night was Chris Rodgers’ 35-yard interception return for a touchdown. As he crossed the goal line, he fumbled the ball. It looked like a touchback on replay. The refs looked at it for what felt like an hour, but the call on the field stood. 31-7. Game over.
Why This Matchup Matters for the Future
This game wasn't just about a trophy. It proved that Tulane is a legitimate "Group of Five" powerhouse that can sustain success even after losing a coach like Willie Fritz. They've now won 11 or more games in three of the last four seasons. That’s blue-blood territory.
For North Texas, it was a heartbreaking end to an incredible season. They outgained Tulane 415 to 344 in total yards. They had more first downs. But you can't turn the ball over five times and expect to win a championship. Mestemaker finished with 294 yards but three interceptions. That's the learning curve of a freshman, I guess.
Key Stats That Actually Tell the Story
| Category | North Texas | Tulane |
|---|---|---|
| Turnovers | 5 | 0 |
| Sacks Allowed | 5 | 0 |
| Rushing Yards | 121 | 199 |
| Time of Possession | 24:52 | 35:08 |
Look at that time of possession. Tulane kept the ball for ten minutes longer than North Texas. They suffocated them.
What Most People Get Wrong About Tulane vs North Texas
The biggest misconception is that Tulane is just a "lucky" team that benefits from being in New Orleans. That’s nonsense. Their kicker, Patrick Durkin, hit a 52-yard field goal in this game—the longest in school history since 1997. He was 24-of-26 on the season. When you have an elite defense, a physical run game, and a kicker who doesn't miss, you aren't lucky. You're dangerous.
Also, don't let the final score fool you into thinking UNT gave up. After falling behind 31-7, they scored two quick touchdowns in less than four minutes. Miles Coleman caught a 59-yard bomb from Mestemaker that made everyone in the stadium nervous. If they hadn't lost Hawkins early, we might be talking about a very different result.
Actionable Insights for Football Fans
If you're following these two programs, keep an eye on the transfer portal and coaching carousels this offseason.
- Monitor the Coaching Vacancies: Both teams lost their head coaches to bigger jobs right before or after this game (Eric Morris and Jon Sumrall). How they recruit during the "dead period" will determine if 2026 is a rebuild or a reload.
- Watch the Quarterback Development: Drew Mestemaker is going to be a Sunday player. If he cleans up the interceptions, he’s a Heisman dark horse next year.
- Defense Wins Championships (Still): Tulane proved that even in the modern era of high-flying offenses, a disciplined secondary and a pass rush can still win you a ring.
The Tulane vs North Texas rivalry is just getting started. These are two of the best-run programs in the G5, and as long as they stay in the American together, every matchup is going to feel like a playoff game.
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Go back and watch the replay of the third quarter if you get a chance. Pay attention to the Tulane defensive line's stunt packages. They were doing things to the North Texas offensive front that should be illegal. That's the blueprint for beating a high-tempo offense: make the quarterback uncomfortable before he even takes his third step.