Tulane Edges Memphis 38–32 to Stay in AAC Race

Photo By: TULANE ATHLETICS

---

In Memphis on Friday night, the Tulane Green Wave showed grit and poise, holding off a furious Memphis comeback to secure a 38–32 win in a key American Athletic Conference matchup. The victory keeps Tulane firmly in the AAC title picture and reinforces their standing as one of the Group of Five’s most complete teams.

First Quarter – Early Fireworks

Tulane wasted no time making an impact. On the opening drive, quarterback Jake Retzlaff connected with Shazz Preston for a 65-yard touchdown, setting the tone for a night of offensive fireworks.

Memphis quickly responded when Brendon Lewis hit Jamari Hawkins on a 55-yard strike to tie the game 7–7. Tulane answered before the end of the quarter, as Retzlaff capped a methodical drive with a short rushing touchdown to regain the lead.

End of 1st: Tulane 14, Memphis 7.

Second Quarter – Tulane Takes Control

The Green Wave dominated the second quarter with precision and big plays. Retzlaff broke loose for a 33-yard rushing touchdown, then connected on a 54-yard bomb to Anthony Brown-Stephens to stretch the lead.

Moments later, he found Preston again for another score, completing a near-perfect quarter. Memphis managed to add a touchdown and field goal, but Tulane’s tempo and execution were too much.

Halftime: Tulane 35, Memphis 17.

Third Quarter – Tigers Fight Back

Tulane opened the second half with a field goal to go up 38–17, but Memphis showed fight. Lewis led two scoring drives, one on the ground and another through the air, to trim the deficit to 38–25 heading into the final quarter.

The momentum had shifted slightly, but Tulane’s defense continued to limit explosive plays when it mattered.

End of 3rd: Tulane 38, Memphis 25.

Fourth Quarter – Defense Seals It

With just under eight minutes left, Lewis hit Cortez Braham Jr. for a 25-yard touchdown, making it 38–32 and setting up a tense finish.

But Tulane’s defense stood tall. On a pivotal fourth-and-eight, the Green Wave stopped Memphis near midfield and never gave the ball back. Retzlaff and the offense managed the clock masterfully, closing out one of Tulane’s most resilient wins of the season.

Final: Tulane 38, Memphis 32.

By the Numbers

• Jake Retzlaff (Tulane): 332 passing yards, 3 TDs, 1 rushing TD

• Shazz Preston (Tulane): 3 receptions, 85 yards, 2 TDs

• Brendon Lewis (Memphis): 317 passing yards, 2 TDs

• Cortez Braham Jr. (Memphis): 11 receptions, 113 yards

• Tulane finished with 476 total yards and forced two turnovers

  
  

What It Means

For Tulane (7–2, 4–1 AAC), this was the kind of game championship teams win — fast start, mid-game adversity, and late composure. Retzlaff’s chemistry with Preston continues to elevate the offense, while the defense made critical stops when it mattered most.

For Memphis (8–2, 4–2 AAC), the loss stings. Despite piling up yardage, the Tigers couldn’t recover from early breakdowns and missed opportunities.

Final Thoughts

Tulane proved once again that balance, discipline, and explosive playmaking can travel anywhere, even into a hostile environment. The Green Wave weathered the late surge, played smart situational football, and walked away with a statement win.

Follow Bayou State Media for more Green Wave updates.