Overreacting to Memphis’ emphatic win over Tulane on Thanksgiving

On By Littum

NEW ORLEANS — Memphis beat Tulane Thursday night at Yulman Stadium to end the regular season with an emphatic win, denying No. 17. Green Wave a shot at the College Football Playoff.

It was easily the Tigers’ best win of the season, especially considering Florida State’s slide after Memphis’ Sept. 14 win in Tallahassee. Tulane (9-3, 7-1) will still play in the AAC title game next week, and Memphis (10-2, 6-2) will not. But it was a dynamic upset that ensured the Tigers posted double-digit wins for the second consecutive season.

Here are our overreactions from their 34-24 win.

Thursday was the biggest win of the Ryan Silverfield era

This win will likely always be bittersweet for Memphis fans because it showed very clearly that the Tigers had the potential to be the best team in the conference, while also meaning virtually nothing in the grand scheme of things.

The Tigers are not going to the College Football Playoff. In a vacuum, however, this was a massive win for them.

They were 13.5 point underdogs but didn’t show it on the field. Tulane never had a strong foothold in the game, and it was Memphis’ most complete performance of the season.

It alluded to last season’s win over Iowa State in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl, when Memphis entered as a 9.5-point favorite but dominated Cyclones. The Tigers have beaten power conference teams under Silverfield, including earlier this season, but there’s a case to be made that this was his best win.

Memphis’ offensive problems could have been solved by Greg Desrosiers Jr.

Greg Desrosiers Jr. wasn’t supposed to play a big role this season, but Sutton Smith’s season-ending injury during the first quarter of the season opener meant the UMass transfer suddenly had big shoes to fill.

But he suffered a collarbone injury Sept. 14 against Florida State and missed the next five games. He returned Nov. 2 against UTSA and has played in the past few games, but he clearly wasn’t 100 percent before Thursday’s game.

And he was excellent. Desrosiers scored three touchdowns (two receiving and one rushing) and eluded Tulane defenders all night.

Memphis had all the tools to win the AAC

The Tigers were picked to win the conference in the preseason poll and were a trending pick to reach the College Football Playoff.

Losses to Navy and UTSA meant those hopes went out the window, but that doesn’t mean the Tigers didn’t have the wherewithal to achieve those goals. The win against Tulane was another example of just that, as Memphis came to Yulman Stadium as double-digit underdogs. The Tigers imposed their will on the Green Wave — who will be favored to win the AAC title against Army next week — throughout the game.

The Tigers had the ability to win the AAC and go to the College Football Playoff. They just didn’t prove it on a consistent basis.

Reach sportswriter Jonah Dylan at [email protected] or at X @thejonahdylan.