After an impressive 37-17 victory against University of South Alabama to open the season, Michael Pratt and the No. 24 Green Wave prepare for its toughest matchup of the season: a date with No. 20 Ole Miss Rebels.
Anticipation for this matchup of ranked opponents has been building since the offseason, with the non-student tickets being sold out since the middle of August. This is the first time zero tickets are available on the primary market since the first game played in Yulman Stadium in 2014, when Tulane played the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.
The hype for this game is rightfully earned. In week one, Tulane proved last year was not a fluke, and that Pratt is ready to take full control of an offense that mainly relied on the run game last season. Pratt finished week one going 14-15 for 294 yards and four touchdowns. Pratt limped off the field with a leg injury, but head coach Willie Fritz confirmed that Pratt is ready to go against Ole Miss.
While Tulane’s passing offense got off to a strong start, it will need more help from its rushing attack if the team wants to upset the Rebels. Against USA, Tulane rotated between four different running backs, hoping that one would stand out and take the starting job. Out of the four, the main standout was Makhi Hughes, who led the team in rushing with 41 yards on eight carries. Expect Hughes to take a bigger role against Ole Miss, as the running back rotation thins out.
Ole Miss’s week one performance went well, beating the Mercer University Bears by 66 points in a 73-7 win. Head coach Lane Kiffin’s Rebels are led by quarterback Jaxson Dart, who despite competing for his spot in the offseason, cemented himself as Ole Miss’s starting quarterback in week one with a 334-yard, four touchdown performance.
The Rebels offense is full of dynamic playmakers such as sophomore running back Quinshon Judkins, who set the Ole Miss record for rushing yards his freshman year. The other player to watch is receiver Tre Harris, who had four touchdowns in his Ole Miss debut against Mercer.
With Tulane starting linebacker Corey Platt Jr. already being ruled out, the Green Wave defense will have its hands full against a dynamic Rebel offense.
The Green Wave has lost its last 12 games against Ole Miss, with its last matchup being a 61-21 loss two years ago. With an improved program and home field, Tulane is hoping to end its losing streak. The game will be played at 2:30 p.m., with doors opening at 1 p.m.