The PAC-12 conference is coming back, and Tulane University might be part of it. This marks a tremendous milestone for Tulane’s sports teams. Several decades ago, Tulane was in the Southeastern Conference but is now in the American Athletic Conference, which consists of relatively small Division I schools. In recent years, some of the AAC’s top athletics programs have leveled up to more competitive conferences. Southern Methodist University joined the Atlantic Coast Conference and the University of Houston joined the Big 12. Tulane can now do the same, and they have proven they are capable.  

Across many sports, Tulane has performed extremely well against conference foes. In 2022, Tulane won the conference championship in football. The following season, the Green Wave football team went undefeated against AAC opponents in the regular season. From the start of 2022 to the end of the 2023 season, Tulane had 23 wins and only three regular-season losses. Moreover, Tulane’s baseball team won the conference championship this past spring. Tulane fans should also remember the thrilling win against No.10 University of Memphis in basketball. 

A transition to the modified PAC-12 conference will create some challenges. Travel is the most obvious, as most PAC-12 teams will be on or near the West Coast. This is especially problematic for Tulane’s athletic teams that have frequent games or meets. In football, Tulane would no longer be one of the prominent contenders for the No. 12 seed in the College Football Playoff, a spot designated for the best “non-Power 4 team.” While the path to qualify may be different in upcoming years, Tulane football is striving to be one of the 12 teams to be in the College Football Playoff. As Head Coach Jon Sumrall said last December, “I’m telling you right now. I’m speaking this into existence. We’re gonna make the College Football Playoff and we’re gonna win it.”  

As a second-year student and proud fan, I believe that regardless of the conference Tulane plays in, the future of Green Wave sports is bright.