Tulane Defeats Memphis Tigers 31-17

The Tulane Green Wave secured a victory against the Memphis Tigers in New Orleans behind a strong defensive performance.

Updated on Oct. 25, 2026 in Football

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After a turnover-heavy loss, are you still confident in your local team's performance this season?

Tulane defeated the Memphis Tigers with a final score of 31-17 in New Orleans. The win was heavily aided by the Green Wave capitalizing on six turnovers committed by the Memphis offense.

Why it matters

The outcome significantly alters the momentum for both teams within the American Athletic Conference standings. For Tulane, the offensive production exceeded their previous season average, while the turnover disparity proved fatal for Memphis.

Tulane entered the game averaging 18.4 points per game before outperforming that mark with 31 total points. The Memphis Tigers' performance was marred by six turnovers, a mark the program had not reached in a single game since 2006.

The players

Tulane Green Wave

The athletic program representing Tulane University in New Orleans that competes in the American Athletic Conference.

Memphis Tigers

The football team representing the University of Memphis which currently holds a 5-2 overall record.

The details

The Memphis Tigers struggled to maintain possession, allowing Tulane to dominate the flow of the game in New Orleans. Tulane moved to a 3-3 overall record and 1-1 in the conference following the performance.

October 24, 2026: Tulane defeated Memphis 31-17.
2006: Memphis last recorded six turnovers in a single game.

Season Trajectory

This game mirrors the statistical challenges faced by the Memphis Tigers during their 2006 loss to East Carolina, where the team also suffered six turnovers. The result forces a shift in the conference standings as Memphis falls to 2-1 in American Athletic Conference play.

Memphis drops to 2-1 in the American Athletic Conference, which complicates their path to the conference title. Tulane improves to 3-3 overall, providing the team a necessary boost in both total wins and conference standing.

The takeaway

Turnovers remain the single most influential metric in determining outcomes in college football. Teams that manage possession effectively often overcome statistical deficits in yardage or time of possession.