BCSNN — Tulane leaned on one of the most disruptive defensive performances in program history Friday night, forcing six turnovers and delivering a series of momentum‑swinging plays to defeat Memphis 31–17 at Yulman Stadium. The Green Wave (3–3, 1–1 American) overcame a yardage deficit, a slow offensive start, and a late Memphis push to secure their fourth win in the last five meetings with the Tigers.
Tulane clung to a 23–17 lead in the fourth quarter when Johnnie Daniels delivered the knockout blow. Facing fourth‑and‑one near midfield, Daniels broke containment, slipped through the second level and sprinted 48 yards for the game‑sealing touchdown. Trace Johnson’s two‑point conversion throw to Destyn Hill pushed the margin to 31–17 and capped a night defined by defensive havoc and timely offensive execution.
Memphis struck first with a 44‑yard field goal from Philippe Laforge, then extended its lead to 10–3 on a 76‑yard pitch‑and‑catch from Marcus Stokes to Stonka Burnside early in the second quarter. Tulane answered with a 56‑yard field goal from Cooper Helmke, his third make from 50‑plus yards this season, and later added a 29‑yard kick to pull within 10–6.
The game shifted dramatically when Ed Smith IV forced his second fumble of the half, setting up a quick strike from Johnson to Hill for a 38‑yard touchdown — the first scoring pass of Johnson’s career — giving Tulane a 13–10 lead it would not relinquish. Helmke’s third field goal extended the margin to 16–10, and the defense delivered its biggest play of the night moments later.
With Memphis driving late in the half, TJ Smith jumped a Stokes pass and raced 76 yards for a pick‑six, sending Tulane into halftime with a 23–10 advantage. The touchdown marked Tulane’s first defensive score of the season and continued a half dominated by takeaways, pressure and physicality.
Memphis clawed back in the fourth quarter, cutting the deficit to 23–17 on a six‑yard touchdown pass from Stokes to Jermyi Davis. The 13‑play, 78‑yard drive briefly quieted the Yulman Stadium crowd, but Tulane’s defense stiffened again, setting up Daniels’ late heroics.
Johnson finished 11‑of‑21 for 165 yards, a touchdown and an interception, while Daniels led the rushing attack with 61 yards and the decisive score. Hill paced the receivers with four catches for 62 yards and a touchdown, and Anthony Brown‑Stephens added 41 yards on three receptions.
Tulane’s defense produced one of the most complete performances in the FBS this season, registering nine tackles for loss, seven sacks and six turnovers — becoming the first FBS team since Louisville in 2022 to hit both marks in the same game. Dickson Agu led the unit with 10 tackles, while Kevin Adams III added nine tackles, two interceptions and a fumble recovery. Smith IV forced two fumbles, and Jah’rie Garner recorded two sacks and a pass breakup.
Special teams also played a major role. Helmke went 3‑for‑4 on field goals, including his 56‑yard bomb, while punter William Hudlow averaged 48 yards per kick with a long of 72, pinning Memphis inside the 20 twice.
Despite being outgained 488–325 and losing the first‑down battle 27–13, Tulane scored 14 points directly off turnovers and repeatedly flipped momentum with defensive pressure. The win extended Tulane’s home winning streak to 10 games, tied for the fourth‑longest in program history and the longest in New Orleans since 1974.
Tulane also improved to 30–4 in conference regular‑season play since 2022, the third‑best mark in the nation over that span, trailing only Georgia and Ohio State. Head coach Will Hall moved to 73–53 in his career and remained perfect at Yulman Stadium at 4–0.
Tulane continues its homestand next Saturday, Oct. 24, hosting UTSA (5–1, 2–0 American) at 7 p.m.
