The 2022 Tulane Green Wave football team represented Tulane University in the 2022 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Green Wave played their home games at Yulman Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana, and competed in the American Athletic Conference (The American). They were led by seventh-year head coach Willie Fritz. They finished the season 12–2, 7–1 in AAC play to earn a trip to the AAC championship game. The Green Wave defeated UCF to win the AAC championship, the school's first conference championship since 1998 and its first AAC championship. They received a bid to the Cotton Bowl Classic to play No-10 ranked USC. It was their first major bowl game since the 1940 Sugar Bowl. Tulane defeated USC in the Cotton Bowl 46–45, scoring 16 points in the final four minutes to win the game. In the game, with 4:30 remaining and the team facing a 15-point deficit, Tulane's win probability stood at 0.2%, yet the Green Wave pulled off the improbable comeback.
Following a 45–31 win against South Florida, Tulane was ranked in the AP Poll for the first time since 1998. It was also the fastest Tulane has ever clinched bowl eligibility in school history at October 15. November 12's home game against UCF was the first Tulane home game between two ranked opponents since 1949.Ross Dellenger. (November 10, 2022). Inside Tulane’s Near-Miraculous Turnaround That Almost Never Happened Sports Illustrated Retrieved March 26, 2023 For the first time since 1984, Tulane beat an opponent ranked in the AP top 25, although Tulane did beat Army in 2019 when they were ranked No. 25 in the Coaches Poll. The ten-win turnaround from two wins in 2021 to twelve in 2022 is the best in NCAA history. The Green Wave were ranked 9th in the final AP Poll, the highest ranking of the Green Wave since 1998.
Award watch lists Listed in the order that they were released Maxwell AwardMichael PrattQBJRDoak Walker AwardTyjae SpearsRBJRJohn Mackey AwardTyrick JamesTESRRimington AwardSincere HaynesworthOLSROutland TrophySincere HaynesworthOLSRPaul Hornung Award Jha'Quan JacksonWRJRWuerffel TrophyNick AndersonLBSR
Schedule Tulane and The American announced the 2022 football schedule on February 17, 2022.
Roster
Game summaries
vs UMass
Statistics UMASS TUL First downs 14 20 Total yards 217 369 Rushes/yards 58–200 39–196 Passing yards 17 173 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 4–11–3 13–22–0 Time of possession 33:15 26:45 Team Category Player StatisticsUMass Passing Gino Campiotti 2/6, 12 yards, 2 INT Rushing Tim Baldwin Jr. 13 carries, 65 yards Receiving George Johnson III 1 reception, 11 yardsTulane Passing Michael Pratt 12/20, 164 yards, 2 TD Rushing Tyjae Spears 12 carries, 57 yards, 3 TD Receiving Jha'Quan Jackson 1 reception, 34 yards
vs Alcorn State (FCS)
Statistics ALCN TUL First downs 4 30 Total yards 109 558 Rushes/yards 32–60 44–159 Passing yards 49 399 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 5–14–1 25–31–0 Time of possession 24:49 35:11 Team Category Player StatisticsAlcorn State Passing Markevion Quinn 2/4, 34 yards Rushing Javonta Leatherwood 8 carries, 30 yards Receiving C. J. Bolar 1 reception, 19 yardsTulane Passing Michael Pratt 17/21, 318 yards, 3 TD Rushing Iverson Celestine 11 carries, 43 yards Receiving Shae Wyatt 5 receptions, 130 yards, TD
at Kansas State
Statistics TUL KSU First downs 18 15 Total yards 336 336 Rushes/yards 40–160 42–186 Passing yards 176 150 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 13–26–2 21–31–0 Time of possession 28:17 31:43 Team Category Player StatisticsTulane Passing Michael Pratt 13/26, 176 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Michael Pratt 13 carries, 87 yards Receiving Duece Watts 3 receptions, 60 yardsKansas State Passing Adrian Martinez 21/31, 150 yards, TD Rushing Deuce Vaughn 20 carries, 81 yards Receiving Malik Knowles 5 receptions, 52 yards
vs Southern Miss
Statistics USM TUL First downs 13 26 Total yards 253 451 Rushes/yards 27–59 47–204 Passing yards 194 247 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 17–25–0 19–29–1 Time of possession 23:59 36:01 Team Category Player StatisticsSouthern Miss Passing Zach Wilcke 17/25, 194 yards, 2 TD Rushing Frank Gore Jr. 16 carries, 44 yards Receiving Jakarius Caston 8 receptions, 91 yards, TDTulane Passing Michael Pratt 19/29, 247 yards, TD, INT Rushing Tyjae Spears 22 carries, 114 yards, 2 TD Receiving Tyjae Spears 5 receptions, 74 yards
at Houston
Statistics TUL HOU First downs 14 22 Total yards 273 383 Rushes/yards 28–84 48–175 Passing yards 189 208 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 16–26–0 22–33–0 Time of possession 23:05 36:55 Team Category Player StatisticsTulane Passing Kai Horton 11/22, 132 yards, 3 TD Rushing Tyjae Spears 14 carries, 54 yards Receiving Tyjae Spears 6 receptions, 85 yards, TDHouston Passing Clayton Tune 22/33, 208 yards, 2 TD Rushing Brandon Campbell 19 carries, 66 yards, TD Receiving Tank Dell 8 receptions, 73 yards, 2 TD
vs East Carolina
Statistics ECU TUL First downs 24 22 Total yards 419 391 Rushes/yards 23–131 32–41 Passing yards 288 350 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 32–52–2 28–35–0 Time of possession 27:25 32:35 Team Category Player StatisticsEast Carolina Passing Holton Ahlers 32/51, 288 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Marlon Gunn Jr. 7 carries, 67 yards Receiving Isaiah Winstead 9 receptions, 90 yardsTulane Passing Michael Pratt 27/34, 326 yards, 2 TD Rushing Tyjae Spears 16 carries, 53 yards Receiving Duece Watts 4 receptions, 93 yards, TD
at South Florida
Statistics TUL USF First downs 30 13 Total yards 564 337 Rushes/yards 51–235 28–118 Passing yards 329 259 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 23–36–0 14–23–0 Time of possession 36:52 23:08 Team Category Player StatisticsTulane Passing Michael Pratt 23/35, 329 yards, 2 TD Rushing Tyjae Spears 18 carries, 151 yards, 2 TD Receiving Jha'Quan Jackson 7 receptions, 86 yardsUSF Passing Katravis Marsh 7/15, 150 yards, 2 TD Rushing Gerry Bohanon 5 carries, 59 yards, TD Receiving Jimmy Horn Jr. 5 receptions, 98 yards, TD
vs Memphis
Statistics MEM TUL First downs 23 19 Total yards 415 344 Rushes/yards 33–103 41–186 Passing yards 312 158 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 26–41–2 20–29–0 Time of possession 27:44 32:16 Team Category Player StatisticsMemphis Passing Seth Henigan 26/41, 312 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT Rushing Seth Henigan 13 carries, 42 yards Receiving Eddie Lewis 3 receptions, 94 yards, 2 TDTulane Passing Michael Pratt 20/29, 158 yards, TD Rushing Tyjae Spears 24 carries, 125 yards, TD Receiving Dae Dae McDougle 5 receptions, 37 yards
at Tulsa
Statistics TUL TLSA First downs 24 16 Total yards 482 257 Rushes/yards 53–357 34–111 Passing yards 125 146 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 11–19–1 13–25–0 Time of possession 34:02 25:58 Team Category Player StatisticsTulane Passing Michael Pratt 11/19, 125 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Tyjae Spears 14 carries, 157 yards, TD Receiving Duece Watts 2 receptions, 42 yardsTulsa Passing Braylon Braxton 13/25, 146 yards, TD Rushing Deneric Prince 14 carries, 55 yards Receiving JuanCarlos Santana 2 receptions, 41 yards, TD
vs No. 22 UCF
Statistics UCF TUL First downs 27 21 Total yards 468 391 Rushes/yards 54–336 27–155 Passing yards 132 236 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 17–30–0 23–39–0 Time of possession 35:24 24:36 Team Category Player StatisticsUCF Passing John Rhys Plumlee 17/30, 132 yards, TD Rushing John Rhys Plumlee 18 carries, 176 yards, 2 TD Receiving Javon Baker 5 receptions, 54 yards, TDTulane Passing Michael Pratt 23/39, 236 yards, 3 TD Rushing Tyjae Spears 8 carries, 130 yards Receiving Jha'Quan Jackson 5 receptions, 95 yards
vs SMU
Statistics SMU TUL First downs 31 20 Total yards 470 451 Rushes/yards 41–141 42–310 Passing yards 329 141 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 35–52–2 9–14–0 Time of possession 33:46 26:14 Team Category Player StatisticsSMU Passing Tanner Mordecai 32/49, 298 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Tyler Lavine 18 carries, 82 yards Receiving Tyler Lavine 7 receptions, 62 yardsTulane Passing Michael Pratt 9/14, 141 yards, 3 TD Rushing Tyjae Spears 13 carries, 121 yards, 2 TD Receiving Shae Wyatt 3 receptions, 108 yards, 2 TD
at No. 24 Cincinnati
Statistics TUL CIN First downs 22 19 Total yards 383 337 Rushes/yards 48–221 43–235 Passing yards 162 102 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 13–22–0 10–26–1 Time of possession 33:59 26:01 Team Category Player StatisticsTulane Passing Michael Pratt 13/22, 162 yards, TD Rushing Tyjae Spears 35 carries, 185 yards, 2 TD Receiving Shae Wyatt 3 receptions, 62 yardsCincinnati Passing Evan Prater 10/26, 102 yards, INT Rushing Ryan Montgomery 17 carries, 95 yards, 2 TD Receiving Will Pauling 2 receptions, 41 yards
vs No. 22 UCF (AAC Championship Game)
Statistics UCF TUL First downs 23 20 Total yards 410 648 Rushes/yards 48–145 31–254 Passing yards 265 394 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 24–48–0 20–33–1 Time of possession 34:21 25:39 Team Category Player StatisticsUCF Passing John Rhys Plumlee 21/39, 209 yards, TD Rushing Isaiah Bowser 20 carries, 85 yards, TD Receiving Kobe Hudson 4 receptions, 98 yards, 2 TDTulane Passing Michael Pratt 20/39, 394 yards, 4 TD, INT Rushing Tyjae Spears 22 carries, 199 yards, TD Receiving Duece Watts 3 receptions, 134 yards, TD
vs No. 10 USC (Cotton Bowl)
Statistics TUL USC First downs 16 29 Total yards 539 594 Rushes/yards 34–305 32–132 Passing yards 234 462 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 8–18–0 37–52–1 Time of possession 20:11 39:49 Team Category Player StatisticsTulane Passing Michael Pratt 8/17, 234 yards, 2 TD Rushing Tyjae Spears 17 carries, 205 yards, 4 TD Receiving Jha'Quan Jackson 1 reception, 87 yards, TDUSC Passing Caleb Williams 37/52, 462 yards, 5 TD, INT Rushing Raleek Brown 6 carries, 61 yards, TD Receiving Brenden Rice 6 receptions, 174 yards, 2 TD
Rankings
References