11/08/25 12:01:00
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11/07 23:59 CST Tulane beats No. 22 Memphis 38-32 to stay in contention for the
Group of Five's spot in CFP
Tulane beats No. 22 Memphis 38-32 to stay in contention for the Group of Five's
spot in CFP
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) --- Jake Retzlaff threw for 332 yards and three touchdowns
and Tulane held off No. 22 Memphis 38-32 on Friday night to stay in contention
for the Group of Five's spot in the College Football Playoff and dash the
Tigers' hopes.
Tulane (7-2, 4-1 American Athletic Conference) survived a furious
fourth-quarter comeback attempt as the Tigers fought back from a 21-point
third-quarter deficit.
Memphis (8-2, 4-2) was unable to convert on fourth-and-8 from the Tulane 35
with two minutes remaining, ending its chances along with its 11-game home
winning streak.
Brendon Lewis passed for 317 yards and two touchdowns for the Tigers. Cortez
Braham Jr. caught 11 passes for 113 yards.
The Green Wave scored on their first play from scrimmage --- a 65-yard pass
from Retzlaff to Shazz Preston --- and found the end zone on four of their next
five possessions in the opening half. At the half, Retzlaff had completed 14 of
15 passes for 284 yards and three touchdowns. Preston had three catches for 85
yards and two scores.
The Green Wave had 364 yards at the half, but were held to 93 in the second
half.
The takeaway
Memphis: The Tigers entered the game as the leader from the Group of Five to
make the College Football Playoff. The Tigers were the highest ranked among the
non-Power 4 programs following the Tuesday release of the CFP rankings, but saw
those playoff hopes dashed in an overwhelming offensive display by the Green
Wave from the outset.
Tulane: The Green Wave bounced back from a 48-26 loss last week at Texas-San
Antonio to jump back into the running for a CFP spot. Tulane has an
accommodating schedule --- Florida Atlantic, at Temple, Charlotte --- to finish
the regular season. Those three teams are 9-16 overall.
Up next
Tulane: Host Florida Atlantic on Saturday, Nov. 15.
Memphis: At East Carolina on Saturday, Nov. 15.
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