Tulane beats North Texas: How American Championship result impacts College Football Playoff

Friday’s American Conference Championship had plenty at stake for both Tulane and North Texas. Both teams ranked in the penultimate College Football Playoff Top 25, meaning the winner was likely heading to the 12-team bracket.

The Mean Green struck first, but it was all Green Wave from there. Tulane came away with the victory, meaning a trip to the CFP is likely in the cards after Sunday’s final rankings reveal show.

After North Texas struck first in the opening quarter, Tulane rattled off 31 unanswered points to take full control in the second half. The Mean Green made it interesting late, but it wasn’t enough as the Green Wave got the 34-21 win in New Orleans to bring home the American title.

Conference championship weekend will have a major impact on the College Football Playoff with bids still up for grabs. The five highest-ranked conference champions receive spots in the field, along with seven at-large teams, and Tulane is in line to be one of those bids with its victory on Friday.

However, if things work out the right way, the Group of 6 could get two teams in the field. Saturday’s ACC Championship will see Virginia take on Duke. The Blue Devils have five losses, and if they defeat the Cavaliers in Charlotte, it could pave the way for James Madison – the No. 25-ranked team entering the weekend – to make the field.

How it happened: Tulane wins American

Drew Mestemaker threw a 10-yard touchdown to get North Texas on the board, but it was all Tulane from there. Jake Retzlaff had two rushing touchdowns and Jamauri McClure had another to go with 121 yards on the ground. The Green Wave defense also got a big play in the third quarter, though it had a bit of controversy.

Linebacker Chris Rodgers intercepted Mestemaker and appeared to return it for a pick-six. However, the ball went out the back of the end zone, and the officials went to the monitor to see if Mestemaker knocked it free before it crossed the plane. They ultimately upheld the call after a lengthy review, though ABC analyst Roddy Jones thought it could have been a touchback.

North Texas didn’t go away easily, though. Mestemaker made a big play on fourth down with 16 seconds left in the third quarter, hitting Miles Coleman for a 59-yard touchdown to cut the Tulane lead to 31-13 after two-point conversion failed. Then, the Mean Green scored again with 9:26 to go to make it 31-21 when they got that conversion.

But Tulane went to work draining clock, and the Green Wave got it down to 2:51 before making a field goal to extend the lead to 34-21. North Texas marched down the field, but Mestemaker threw his third interception of the game. That sent Tulane to the American title – and, more than likely, the College Football Playoff.