Rock Bottom at Yulman: Tulsa Hangs 60 on Tulane, and the Tulane Green Wave Have Three Weeks to Answer
There's no softening this one.
Tulane lost its Homecoming game 60-10 to Tulsa on Saturday at Yulman Stadium. It's the most points anyone has scored in that building and the program's largest-ever loss in American Conference play.
The Wave fall to 4-5 overall and 2-3 in the league.
How it got away
Tulsa scored on its opening drive, an 11-play, 75-yard march capped by a Baylor Hayes touchdown pass to Oran Singleton Jr. After that it was a slow bleed until the second quarter turned into a flood. A field goal made it 10-0, Hayes found Jimmy Calloway (Former Tulane) for 17-0, and then a Tulane turnover handed Tulsa a three-play, 46-yard touchdown drive for 24-0. Hayes and Singleton connected again with 53 seconds left before half, and a two-point conversion made it 32-0 at the break.
The second half offered no response. After the Wave got a stop to open the third, Tulsa scored on its next two drives, a 27-yard Singleton touchdown and a Damari Alston run, for 46-0. Cooper Helmke's 38-yard field goal early in the fourth avoided the shutout. Dagan Bruno's touchdown pass to Bredell Richardson came with one second left.
The numbers
Tulsa outgained Tulane 562 to 204, including 338 to 112 through the air and 224 to 92 on the ground. Tulsa had 31 first downs to Tulane's 15 and six sacks.
Hayes threw a career-high four touchdowns, tying the Yulman record. Singleton set a stadium record with 13 catches and tied the stadium record with three receiving touchdowns.
Trace Johnson went 11-for-19 for 69 yards with an interception. Bruno went 4-for-6 for 43 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
Johnnie Daniels led the team with 49 rushing yards on 10 carries. Destyn Hill had 4 catches for 55 yards and Anthony Brown-Stephens had 5 for 20.
On defense, Dickson Agu had 8 tackles, TJ Smith had 7 (1 for loss) and Makai Williams had 6. Smith also returned five kicks for 130 yards.
What it means
In Thursday's preview, we said Tulane had to set the edge, protect the football and stay ahead of the chains. It didn't do any of the three.
Tulsa ran for 224 yards, the turnovers turned into points, and six sacks kept the Wave behind schedule all day.
Reaction from the top took the rest of the day and answered nothing.
Athletic director David Harris released a statement Saturday calling the performance "unacceptable" and saying he was "embarrassed by what transpired on the field." He added that the team has to "respond with urgency." Per SI's postgame transcript, Will Hall blamed a lack of execution across the board and said he has to coach better.
The math is simple now.
With Rice, North Texas and South Florida left, Tulane needs two wins for bowl eligibility.
What's next
Tulane plays at Rice on Saturday, Nov. 14, at 1 p.m. CT. Tulane listed Rice at 1-7 and 0-4 in the American as of Saturday. If there's going to be a response, this is the week to show it.
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