Result: Tulane defeats North Texas 34-21 to win American Championship and earn historic first College Football Playoff berth

Tulane defeated North Texas 34-21 Friday night in the American Conference Championship game, earning the Green Wave their berth in the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history. The No. 20 Green Wave dominated New Orleans to claim their second American title in four years and secure what’s expected to be their maiden CFP bid.

Tulane Dominates Early with Defensive Standout Performance

Tulane’s defense forced four turnovers and intercepted three passes while holding a prolific North Texas offense to just one touchdown through most of the first three quarters. The Green Wave recorded five sacks and limited the Mean Green to a season-low 21 points.

North Texas led 7-0 early after a 15-play opening drive capped by Drew Mestemaker’s 10-yard scoring pass to tight end Tre Williams. Tulane responded immediately on a 16-play drive featuring two fourth-down conversions, with Retzlaff running for a 2-yard touchdown to tie the game at 7-7.

Green Wave Offense Runs Away in Second Quarter

Tulane’s second quarter was dominant. Jamauri McClure scored on a rushing touchdown to give the Green Wave their first lead at 14-7. Later that quarter, Chris Rogers returned an interception 35 yards for a touchdown to extend Tulane’s advantage to 24-7 at the half.

The Green Wave controlled the tempo and built their lead to 31-7 after Rogers’ interception return in the third quarter. North Texas mounted a comeback attempt with consecutive touchdown drives that took just 3:57 combined, but Patrick Durkin’s 30-yard field goal with 9:26 remaining sealed the result.

Team Statistic	Score	Passing Yards	Rushing Yards
Tulane	34	231	142 (est.)
North Texas	21	287	115

Historic Achievement: Tulane’s Path to the College Football Playoff

The victory marks a historic milestone for Tulane football, which nearly discontinued its program just two decades ago. The Green Wave’s 11-2 record and conference championship have secured them a berth in the 12-team College Football Playoff. Coach Jon Sumrall, despite accepting a deal to coach at Florida, committed to seeing the playoff run through.

“I’m just cherishing every moment and trying to make sure I appreciate every interaction and every play,” Sumrall said after the victory. Tulane has now won the American Conference championship for the second time in four years, establishing themselves as a powerhouse in Group of Five college football.

North Texas Falls in Championship Despite Strong Regular Season

North Texas’ historic 11-win regular season came to an end Friday night, concluding their bid for a College Football Playoff spot. Coach Eric Morris, recently hired by Oklahoma State, said the loss was difficult but expressed pride in the program’s accomplishments this season.

The Mean Green have now completed their season at 11-2 (5-1 in conference play) and trail Tulane’s head-to-head series 4-0 in all-time meetings. North Texas will still receive an attractive bowl bid and looks to finish their season strong before Neal Brown takes over as the program’s new head coach.

What’s Next: Tulane Awaits CFP Announcement and Selection Sunday

Tulane will now await the official College Football Playoff selection announced on Selection Sunday. As the highest-ranked Group of Five team and American Conference champions, the Green Wave are poised to secure one of the playoff’s four seeds.

The game was played Friday, December 5, 2025, at Yulman Stadium in New Orleans with 23,986 fans in attendance. The championship tested Tulane’s defense against one of college football’s most prolific offenses and proved the Green Wave are ready for championship-level competition.

“We knew we were going to win this game right now. We were going to make a drive they can’t come back from.”

— Jake Retzlaff, Tulane Quarterback

Sources

• ESPN – Game recap and official box score from American Conference Championship
• CBS Sports – Live coverage and analysis of Tulane vs. North Texas championship matchup
• The American – Official American Conference announcement and game details