Overreacting to Memphis’ emphatic victory over Tulane on Thanksgiving

November 29, 2024

NEW ORLEANS – Memphis defeated Tulane on Thursday night at Yulman Stadium, ending the regular season with a comfortable victory and denying the No. 17 Green Wave a shot at the College Football Playoff.

It was easily the Tigers’ best win of the season, especially considering Florida State’s slide following Memphis’ win in Tallahassee on Sept. 14. Tulane (9-3, 7-1) will still play in the AAC title game next week, and Memphis (10-2, 6-2) will not. But it was a dynamic upset that ensured the Tigers posted double-digit wins for the second straight year.

Here are our overreactions after their 34-24 win.

Thursday was the biggest win of the Ryan Silverfield era

This win will likely always be bittersweet for Memphis fans, as it showed very clearly that the Tigers had the potential to be the best team in the conference while also largely meaningless.

The Tigers do not participate in the College Football Playoff. However, in a vacuum, this was a huge victory for them.

They were 13.5 point underdogs, but didn’t look like it at all. Tulane never had a strong hold on the game and it was Memphis’ most complete performance this season.

It was reminiscent of last year’s win over Iowa State in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl, when Memphis entered as a 9.5-point favorite but dominated the Cyclones. The Tigers have beaten Power Conference teams under Silverfield, including earlier this season, but there’s a good case to be made that this was his best win.

Memphis’ offensive problems could have been solved by Greg Desrosiers

Desrosiers wasn’t expected to play a big role early in the season, but Sutton Smith’s season-ending injury in the first quarter of the season opener meant the UMass transfer suddenly had big shoes to fill.

He filled in until he suffered a collarbone injury against Florida State and missed the next five games. He returned against UTSA and played in the last few games, but clearly wasn’t at 100 percent until Thursday’s game.

And he was excellent. Desrosiers scored three touchdowns (two receiving and two rushing) and evaded Tulane defenders all night.

Memphis had all the resources to win the AAC

The Tigers entered the season as favorites to win the AAC title. The Tigers were picked to win the conference in the preseason poll and were a popular choice to advance to the College Football Playoff.

Losses to Navy and UTSA meant those hopes were dashed, but that doesn’t mean the Tigers haven’t shown they’re capable of all of those things. Thursday’s performance was another example of that, as Memphis came into Yulman Stadium as a double-digit underdog. The Tigers imposed their will throughout the game against the Green Wave, who will be favorites to win the AAC title against Army next week.

The Tigers had a chance to win the AAC and make the College Football Playoff. They just haven’t proven it consistently.

Reach sportswriter Jonah Dylan at [email protected] or on X @thejonahdylan.

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