For the second season in a row, the Tulane University Green Wave is bowl-eligible just seven games into the season after another 6-1 start — but it wasn’t easy. Saturday’s game against University of North Texas was smooth sailing in the first half, and it seemed the team would coast its way to its sixth win of the season. However, North Texas found a spark coming out of halftime, scoring 21 unanswered points to erase Tulane’s lead. The air in Yulman Stadium disappeared, as Tulane found themselves on their heels while the Mean Green closed in on a massive upset. 

Tulane’s defense was the story of the first half. They dominated the line of scrimmage and kept North Texas scoreless, forcing two turnovers on downs as well as a fumble. Tulane had all of the momentum, and all signs pointed to a blowout on homecoming weekend. But the Mean Green had other plans.

Tulane scored a touchdown with 4:39 left in the third quarter that stretched its lead to 28-7 after quarterback Michael Pratt found tight end Alex Bauman cutting across the middle of the field for a 21-yard touchdown. The lead gave the Green Wave some breathing room; it seemed the score would put the game out of reach for a struggling North Texas team. But North Texas was quick to respond, scoring back-to-back touchdowns in just four minutes and 22 seconds after a successful onside kick conversion following their first of two scores. Tulane’s lead instantly dwindled to 7 points, and momentum shifted to the Mean Green. 

North Texas’ offensive surge had an impact on the defense, too. Tulane’s response to consecutive touchdowns was a three-and-out, as the Green Wave was only able to muster 6 yards before punting it back to the Mean Green offense. 

North Texas quarterback Chandler Rogers made them pay. After a frustrating first half, compiling just 90 yards through the air, he found his stride in the second half and scored 21 points in the third quarter. With Tulane unable to respond to the Mean Green’s consecutive touchdowns to end the third quarter, Rogers had a chance to tie the score up at 28. Rogers did just that as he orchestrated a 10-play, 65-yard drive that resulted in a 6-yard touchdown pass to freshman receiver Landon Sides.

North Texas overcame a 21-point deficit in Yulman Stadium on homecoming weekend in what felt like mere minutes. A first half that was all Green Wave had been completely flipped by a North Texas team that refused to quit. But that is where the “1-0” Tulane culture came up huge for Willie Fritz’s squad. 

“It’s the culture that Coach Fritz has implemented here,” Pratt said. “It’s the character of the guys that he brings in here. It’s the leadership. It’s staying composed on the sideline.”

Although fans in Yulman may have started to worry that their beloved Green Wave was ready to roll over, the players in the locker room were never phased. Pratt led the Tulane offense, with their backs against the wall, across the field on a six-and-a-half-minute drive that went 75 yards in 13 plays. Tulane converted on four third downs, including a long third and 12 on North Texas’ 19-yard line. Once again, Pratt stepped up in a massive moment.

Pratt has garnered a reputation for being an incredibly clutch player, not just from Tulane fans, but from fans across the country after his gutsy fourth quarter drive against University of Southern California to win the Cotton Bowl Classic in January. His ability to make smart decisions, use his legs and convert on third and fourth downs in critical moments against the Trojans in the Cotton Bowl turned the heads of college football fans everywhere. Pratt became a household name as one of the elite quarterbacks in the nation, and rightfully so. On Saturday, Pratt reminded the world of his heroics in the fourth quarter.

With a long third and 12 on the North Texas’ 19-yard line, it seemed as though a field goal may be the result of a long, well-orchestrated drive that had shown a ton of promise. Although the field goal would regain Tulane’s lead, it was certainly not a situation the Green Wave wanted to find themselves in with 2:34 remaining and the Mean Green coming off of four consecutive touchdown drives.

Pratt took the snap and scanned the field, looking for somewhere to throw the ball, before tucking the ball and running up the middle where there was an open gap. Pratt cut to his left to avoid one tackler in the open field before crossing the first-down line and reaching the end zone, with the football raised above his head in celebration. Yulman Stadium erupted once more as Pratt’s legs stretched the lead back to a touchdown. 

With the momentum back on the Green Wave’s side, the Tulane defense made a critical stop on fourth down to regain possession and complete the victory. It wasn’t the cleanest win by any means, but the Green Wave got it done.

“It wasn’t pretty,” Pratt said. “But we fought to the end and kept our composure.”

Pratt finished with a less than stellar line, as he completed just 15 passes for 194 yards. He also turned the ball over twice as he threw an interception as well as a crucial fumble inches from the goal line in the first half. However, he accounted for four touchdowns, including three through the air and one rushing touchdown which put the game to bed. Although it wasn’t Pratt’s best showing, he stepped up when the Green Wave needed him most and came away with another win. 

Redshirt freshman running back Makhi Hughes had another outstanding game for the Green Wave. He showed his toughness with 20 carries for 121 yards, averaging 6.1 yards-per-carry and a touchdown. With the running back position being a large mystery entering the season with the departure of star running back Tyjae Spears, Hughes has taken the reins and become a star himself in just his first season as the starter.

Senior wide receiver Lawrence Keys III continues to impress. He had another solid outing Saturday, finishing with five receptions for 78 yards and a touchdown. Pratt’s 23-yard touchdown pass to Keys was huge for the Green Wave as it extended the lead to 21-0 before halftime. Keys has been a versatile downfield threat for Pratt this season, and he leads the team in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns thus far. 

Sophomore Bauman only had two receptions on Saturday, but both were massive for the team and resulted in touchdowns. Bauman, the Cotton Bowl hero, has become a bigger part of the offense this season as one of Pratt’s most reliable targets in the red zone.

On the Tulane defense, linebacker Tyler Grubbs made some huge plays in the fourth quarter to help secure the Green Wave victory. The speedy junior accounted for two tackles for loss and a sack, which couldn’t have come at a more pivotal time. With two-and-a-half minutes remaining, North Texas was trying to drive the field to tie the game at 35 following Tulane’s big touchdown run from Pratt. However, on first and 10 from their own 29-yard line, quarterback Rogers couldn’t find an open receiver and decided to try and tuck the ball and run. Grubbs, who was spying on the quarterback during the play, immediately recognized that Rogers was going to try and run and beat him to the punch, tackling him before he ever had a chance to escape. The sack from Grubbs threw the rhythm off for a Mean Green offense that had been clicking the entire second half and gave the Tulane defense something to finally celebrate about.

Tulane escaped a second-half meltdown and won their sixth game of the season, making them bowl-eligible for the second consecutive season. However, the Green Wave isn’t satisfied with just any bowl game this season, as they attempt to become the best mid-major team in the country and get a New Year’s Six Bowl game for the second year in a row.

The Green Wave’s season rolls on with a game this Saturday in Houston, as they face off with another new addition to the American Athletic Conference, the Rice University Owls. The Rice Owls are a solid team with four wins and three losses so far, including two wins and one loss in conference play, making for a good test for the Green Wave. The game will be streamed on ESPN2 next Saturday, Oct. 28, at 3 p.m. CST at Rice Stadium in Houston.