Tulane’s 11–2 season and first-ever College Football Playoff berth should tighten futures markets; expect win-total lines to shorten and bettors to consider Tulane a viable upset pick against early Power Five opponents or a value play in future top-12 seed props. Confidence in Tulane’s program growth could also push preseason odds in next season’s national title and conference champion markets.
Tulane Makes Historic College Football Playoff Debut
Tulane capped an 11–2 season by winning the American Athletic Conference and earning its first-ever berth in the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff. The Green Wave became the third non-power-conference program to reach the playoff era field, joining Boise State (2024) and James Madison (2025). The milestone cements Tulane’s rise under head coach Jon Sumrall and signals the program’s arrival on the national stage.
What This Means for Bettors
Expect futures and win-total markets to react. Tulane’s CFP appearance will likely shorten preseason odds and raise over/under win lines. Sharp bettors may target early-season matchups against Power Five opponents as potential value spots, while cautious money may fade Tulane in high-profile neutral-site games until the roster and schedule are fully assessed.
Where Tulane Sits Academically and Geographically
Campus and Enrollment
Tulane University is located in New Orleans, Louisiana. Founded in 1834 as the Medical College of Louisiana and renamed after major benefactor Paul Tulane in 1884, the private research university reported total enrollment of about 14,378 students in Fall 2025.
Institutional Prestige
Tulane is a member of the Association of American Universities and is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a university with “very high research activity,” placing it among a small group of leading research institutions nationwide.
Conference History and Recent Success
Conference Affiliations
Tulane has been a member of the American Athletic Conference since 2014. Earlier conference homes included Conference USA (1996–2013) and, historically, the Southeastern Conference (1933–1965).
Program Momentum
The Green Wave have won the AAC twice in recent seasons — in 2022 under Willie Fritz and again in 2025 under Jon Sumrall — demonstrating sustained competitiveness in the Group of Five ranks and the ability to challenge higher-profile programs.
Name Origin and Early History
The university took the Tulane name after Paul Tulane’s transformative donations in 1884, which converted the University of Louisiana into Tulane University. The H. Sophie Newcomb Memorial College opened in 1886 as a coordinate college for women. Over nearly two centuries, Tulane has grown into a well-regarded research institution.
College Football Playoff and Bowl Legacy
2025 marked Tulane’s first appearance in the College Football Playoff. The program has been ranked nationally in recent seasons (peaking in the top 20 in prior years) and finished the 2025 season ranked in the Top 25. Historically, Tulane is 7–10 all-time in bowl games, with notable major-bowl victories including a Sugar Bowl win over Temple in 1934 and a Cotton Bowl win over USC in 2022.
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