The 2023 Tulane Green Wave football team represented Tulane University in the American Athletic Conference (AAC) during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Green Wave were led by Willie Fritz in his eighth and final year as head coach. They played their home games at Yulman Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana. They entered this season as the defending AAC champions.
On December 3, Fritz was hired as the head coach for the Houston Cougars. Offensive coordinator Slade Nagle was named interim coach for the Military Bowl. On December 9, Troy head coach Jon Sumrall was named as the Green Wave's new head coach.
The Tulane Green Wave football team drew an average home attendance of 25,021 in 2023.
Offseason Jim Svoboda, Tulane's former offensive coordinator, parted ways with the team after one season. To replace him, Willie Fritz promoted seventh-year tight ends coach Slade Nagle to offensive coordinator, now Tulane's fourth offensive coordinator in as many years.
Chris Hampton, Tulane's former defensive coordinator, was hired by Oregon as a co-defensive coordinator. Lance Guidry was hired as his replacement on January 20, 2023, although Guidry left the job 18 days later for the same position at Miami. On February 16, Tulane announced their new defensive coordinator to be Shiel Wood, the former defensive coordinator at Troy.
Tulane would lose some outgoing players to the National Football League draft in the offseason: Tyjae Spears and Dorian Williams were both drafted in the third round of the 2023 NFL draft. Nick Anderson, Larry Brooks, Macon Clark, Tyrick James, Will Wallace, Duece Watts, Shae Wyatt, and Lummie Young IV were all signed to the NFL as undrafted free agents as well. However, co-captains Michael Pratt and Sincere Haynesworth announced they would return to Tulane for the 2023 season.
Transfers
Outgoing Ygenio BookerRBUT MartinDeajaun McDougleWRUnknownKanyon WalkerCBMurray StateHutson LillibridgeOLMissouri StateCameron CarrollRBFloridaCarlos HatcherEDGECoastal CarolinaArmoni DixonLBUnknownKriston EsnardKUCFKeanon McNallyOTOld DominionCadien RobinsonCBUnknownJadon CanadyCBOle MissAndre' SamSLSUTJ HugginsCBFlorida A&MJoseph SolomonOTAppalachian StateTyrek PresleyWRUnknown
Incoming
AJ HamptonCBNorthwesternTyler GrubbsLBLouisiana TechDontae FlemingWRLouisianaCameron WireOTLSUYulkeith BrownWRTexas A&MChris CarterTEUSFKameron PedescleauxSLouisianaTahir AnnoorCBWoffordDarius SwansonSNebraska–KearneyShedro LouisRBLiberty
AAC preseason media poll The preseason AAC poll was released on July 25, 2023.
Media poll 1 Tulane 20 2 UTSA 9 3 SMU 3 4 Memphis 1 5 Florida Atlantic 6 East Carolina 7 North Texas 8 UAB 1 9 Navy 10 Temple 11 Tulsa 12 Rice 13 South Florida 14 Charlotte
Award watch lists Listed in the order that they were released Lott TrophyPatrick JenkinsDLJRDodd TrophyWillie FritzHC--Maxwell AwardMichael PrattQBSRBronko Nagurski TrophyDarius HodgesDERS JRJarius MonroeCBSROutland TrophySincere HaynesworthOLSRPrince PinesOLRS SRPaul Hornung AwardJha'Quan JacksonWRSRWuerffel TrophyMichael PrattQBSRRimington TrophySincere HaynesworthOLSRDavey O'Brien AwardMichael PrattQBSRJim Thorpe AwardJarius MonroeCBSRWalter Camp AwardMichael PrattQBSRBednarik AwardPatrick JenkinsDLJRJarius MonroeCBSR
Schedule
Rankings
Roster
Game summaries vs South Alabama
Statistics USATUL First downs 18 16 Total yards 265 436 Rushing yards 75 142 Passing yards 190 294 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 23–30–2 14–15–0 Time of possession 29:23 30:37 Team Category Player StatisticsSouth Alabama Passing Carter Bradley 23/30, 190 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing La'Damian Webb 9 carries, 40 yards Receiving Jamaal Pritchett 5 receptions, 63 yardsTulane Passing Michael Pratt 14/15, 294 yards, 4 TD Rushing Makhi Hughes 8 carries, 41 yards Receiving Jha'Quan Jackson 3 receptions, 106 yards, 2 TD
vs No. 20 Ole Miss
Statistics MISSTUL First downs 18 18 Total yards 363 342 Rushing yards 89 111 Passing yards 274 231 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 25:15 34:45 Team Category Player StatisticsOle Miss Passing Jaxson Dart 17/27, 267 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT Rushing Quinshon Judkins 18 carries, 48 yards, 1 TD Receiving Dayton Wade 7 receptions, 106 yardsTulane Passing Kai Horton 15/37, 231 yards 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Makhi Hughes 23 carries, 92 yards, 1 TD Receiving Lawrence Keys III 5 receptions, 94 yards
at Southern Miss
Statistics TULUSM First downs 18 14 Total yards 314 212 Rushing yards 128 35 Passing yards 186 177 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 28:23 31:37 Team Category Player StatisticsTulane Passing Kai Horton 12/19, 186 yards, 2 TD Rushing Makhi Hughes13 carries, 83 yards Receiving Lawrence Keys III4 receptions, 78 yardsSouthern Miss Passing Billy Wiles19/33, 177 yards Rushing Rodrigues Clark5 carries, 17 yards Receiving Jakarius Caston2 receptions, 54 yards
vs Nicholls
Statistics NICHTUL First downs 21 19 Total yards 335 408 Rushing yards 62 150 Passing yards 273 258 Turnovers 4 3 Time of possession 32:26 27:34 Team Category Player StatisticsNicholls Passing Pat McQuaide 27/39, 273 yards, TD, 4 INTs Rushing Collin Guggenheim 14 carries, 56 yards Receiving Neno Lemay 8 receptions, 75 yards, TDTulane Passing Michael Pratt 18/23, 190 yards, 2 TDs, INT Rushing Arnold Barnes III 4 carries, 71 yards Receiving Lawrence Keys III 4 receptions, 77 yards, 2 TDs
vs UAB
Statistics UABTUL First downs 25 24 Total yards 434 448 Rushing yards 170 264 Passing yards 264 184 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 30:05 29:55 Team Category Player StatisticsUAB Passing Jacob Zeno 27/35, 236 yards Rushing Isaiah Jacobs 18 carries, 95 yards, 2 TD Receiving Amare Thomas 8 receptions, 99 yardsTulane Passing Michael Pratt 14/23, 184 yards, 2 TD Rushing Makhi Hughes 22 carries, 123 yards, 2 TD Receiving Lawrence Keys III 3 receptions, 54 yards, 1 TD
at Memphis
Statistics TULMEM First downs 20 20 Total yards 403 366 Rushing yards 144 45 Passing yards 259 321 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 36:58 23:02 Team Category Player StatisticsTulane Passing Michael Pratt 19/31, 259 yards, 1 TD Rushing Makhi Hughes 26 carries, 130 yards, 1 TD Receiving Chris Brazzell II 3 receptions, 103 yardsMemphis Passing Seth Henigan 24/43, 321 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT Rushing Sutton Smith 4 carries, 22 yards Receiving Demeer Blankumsee 6 receptions, 108 yards
vs North Texas
Statistics UNTTUL First downs 23 24 Total yards 426 439 Rushing yards 83 245 Passing yards 343 194 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 27:24 32:36 Team Category Player StatisticsNorth Texas Passing Chandler Rogers 35/51, 343 yards, 2 TD Rushing Chandler Rogers 8 carries, 34 yards Receiving Ja'Mori Maclin 8 receptions, 71 yards, 1 TDTulane Passing Michael Pratt 15/21, 194 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT Rushing Makhi Hughes 20 carries, 121 yards, 1 TD Receiving Lawrence Keys III 5 receptions, 78 yards, 1 TD
at Rice
Statistics TULRICE First downs 24 15 Total yards 457 271 Rushing yards 194 82 Passing yards 263 189 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 36:05 23:55
Team Category Player StatisticsTulane Passing Michael Pratt 22/30, 263 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Makhi Hughes 23 rushes, 153 yards Receiving Chris Brazzell II 5 receptions, 75 yardsRice Passing JT Daniels 18/29, 189 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Juma Otoviano 9 rushes, 38 yards, 2 TD Receiving Luke McCaffrey 5 receptions, 79 yards, TD
at East Carolina
Statistics TULECU First downs 20 10 Total yards 368 190 Rushing yards 155 70 Passing yards 213 120 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 38:12 21:48 Team Category Player StatisticsTulane Passing Michael Pratt 16/25, 213 yards, 1 TD Rushing Makhi Hughes 25 carries, 105 yards Receiving Lawrence Keys III 3 receptions, 77 yards, 1 TDEast Carolina Passing Alex Flinn 10/18, 120 yards Rushing Rahjai Harris 13 carries, 52 yards Receiving Jaylen Johnson 3 receptions, 40 yards
vs Tulsa
Statistics TLSATUL First downs 22 17 Total yards 477 357 Rushing yards 122 163 Passing yards 355 194 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 29:29 30:31 Team Category Player StatisticsTulsa Passing Kirk Francis 22/34, 345 yards, TD Rushing Anthony Watkins 15 carries, 76 yards Receiving Kamdyn Benjamin 8 receptions, 157 yards, 2 TDTulane Passing Michael Pratt 16/29, 194 yards, TD, INT Rushing Makhi Hughes 19 carries, 131 yards, TD Receiving Bryce Bohanon 4 receptions, 57 yards
at Florida Atlantic
Statistics TULFAU First downs 17 14 Total yards 336 234 Rushing yards 84 32 Passing yards 252 202 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 32:08 27:52 Team Category Player StatisticsTulane Passing Michael Pratt 21/28, 252 yards, 3 TD Rushing Makhi Hughes 21 carries, 72 yards Receiving Chris Brazzell II 7 receptions, 103 yards, TDFlorida Atlantic Passing Daniel Richardson 24/31, 202 yards, TD, INT Rushing Larry McCammon 10 carries, 32 yards Receiving LaJohntay Wester 11 receptions, 86 yards
vs UTSA
Statistics UTSATUL First downs 21 13 Total yards 375 352 Rushing yards 177 227 Passing yards 198 125 Turnovers 5 1 Time of possession 31:42 28:18 Team Category Player StatisticsUTSA Passing Frank Harris 25/38, 198 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Kevorian Barnes 12 carries, 92 yards Receiving Joshua Cephus 6 receptions, 83 yardsTulane Passing Michael Pratt 9/22, 125 yards, 2 TD Rushing Makhi Hughes 26 carries, 166 yards, TD Receiving Chris Brazzell II 5 receptions, 93 yards, 2 TD
vs SMU (AAC Championship Game)
Statistics SMUTUL First downs 21 12 Total yards 396 269 Rushing yards 193 31 Passing yards 203 238 Turnovers 3 1 Time of possession 34:07 25:53 Team Category Player StatisticsSMU Passing Kevin Jennings 19/33, 203 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Jaylan Knighton 15 rushes, 75 yards, TD Receiving R. J. Maryland 5 receptions, 56 yardsTulane Passing Michael Pratt 21/36, 238 yards, TD, INT Rushing Makhi Hughes 11 rushes, 44 yards Receiving Yulkeith Brown 5 receptions, 90 yards, TD
vs Virginia Tech (Military Bowl)
Statistics VTTUL First downs 25 15 Total yards 453 252 Rush yards 362 133 Passing yards 91 119 Turnovers 2 3 Time of possession 33:06 26:54 Team Category Player StatisticsVirginia Tech Passing Kyron Drones 13/21, 91 yards, 2 TD Rushing Kyron Drones 20 carries, 176 yards, TD Receiving Benji Gosnell 2 receptions, 21 yards, TDTulane Passing Kai Horton 13/20, 119 yards, 2 TD Rushing Makhi Hughes 15 carries, 88 yards Receiving Malik Washington 5 receptions, 63 yards
References