Game notes
- Time and date: Saturday, October 10 at 12:00 p.m. ET
- Network: CBS Sports Network
- Location: Michie Stadium — West Point, NY
- Spread: Army (-3.5)
- Over/under: 48.5
- All-time series: Tulane leads, 14-10-1
- Last meeting: Tulane 24, Army 17 — October 18, 2025
- Current streak: Tulane, 1 (2025)
Setting the scene
Even before sharing the American Conference, Army and Tulane were famliar opponents, squaring off 19 times from 1996 through 2020. The Black Knights then joined the American in 2024 and instantly ran the league, rattling off an 8-0 conference record before handling Tulane in the conference championship game.
That was the only time in the last four years Tulane didn’t serve as the conference title host. With first-year head coach Will Hall in the fold, the Green Wave hope to host the American Championship
for a fourth time in five years. To achieve that goal, it starts with defeating Army at Michie Stadium in this conference opener.
Tulane Green Wave outlook
Tulane (2-2, 0-0 American) split its non-conference slate, falling to Duke and Kansas State by double-digits on the road, while escaping Sun Belt opponents South Alabama and Southern Miss at home with late fourth quarter heroics.
The biggest question entering this game, asks: who starts at quarterback? Zeon Chriss-Gremillion was Tulane’s Week 1 starter, but the Green Wave moved to Kadin Semonza for Weeks 2 through 4. But at the end of the last outing against Southern Miss, head coach Will Hall changed quarterbacks from Semonza to true freshman Trace Johnson in the fourth quarter. Johnson provided a spark in the come-from-behind victory, but his sample size remains small, completing just 2-of-5 passes for 35 yards without a single rushing attempt.
The passing game unquestionably needs a boost. Tulane ranks 105th in the FBS in passing offense, completing just 54.2 percent of attempts with three touchdowns against one interception. The pass protection has been lacking too, allowing the 11th-most sacks per game in the country at 3.3.
However, the Green Wave can dominate on the ground, and they do it with several different weapons. Running backs Jaylin Lucas and Maurice Turner each rushed for 200+ yards in the first four weeks, and the group gets even deeper as Jamauri McClure — Tulane’s starting running back during its 2025 College Football Playoff run — is slated to make his season debut.
Tulane’s strength last season was its run defense, but the Green Wave have fallen off in that department, entering this matchup against the No. 1 rushing offense ranked 125th — allowing 191 yards per game on the ground. Losing star outside linebacker Chris Rodgers certainly doesn’t help, but the Green Wave still present veteran linebackers Makai Williams and Dickson Agu, who will be essential to countering this option.
Army Black Knights outlook
Army (2-2, 1-1 American) is already preparing for its third conference game. The Black Knights’ first two conference matchups were decided by the thinnest margins, featuring a lead change in the final two minutes. Army wound up on the wrong side of that late lead change in Week 2 when South Florida converted a late fourth down for a game-winning touchdown. But two weeks later, the Black Knights returned the favor at Temple.
One-score games are customary for Army. Nine of the Black Knights’ last 10 matchups against FBS competition were decided by one score, and eight of the last nine were decided by four points or fewer — including every FBS matchup this season.
Army’s option offense is in a familiar spot at first in the country in rushing yards per game at 334, while averaging the sixth-most yards per carry (6.4) in the FBS. Cale Hellums, who led all quarterbacks in rushing last year, remains the unit’s leading rusher with 301 yards, and his rushing performance dictates the result more than anyone else. In Army’s two wins, he has 191 yards and five touchdowns on a 6.6 average. In the losses to South Florida and Louisiana Tech, he combined for 110 yards and one touchdown on a 3.0 average.
The Black Knights’ other ball carriers in the option attack include running back Godspower Nwawuihe and the explosive slot backs Samari Howard (293 rushing yards on a 10.9 average) and Zach Mundell (159 yards on a 14.5 average). However, Nwawuihe’s status remains unknown after he missed the Louisiana Tech game, which could make Carson Smith and Jake Rendina the downhill threats.
Army’s defense allowed over 500 yards to Louisiana Tech, and that remains the team’s greatest struggle. The Black Knights are 89th nationally in yards allowed, while playing a style that typically limits possessions. Army has struggled with a lack of backfield pressure, producing the third-fewest sacks (3) and fewest tackles for loss (12) in the country. Additionally, the Black Knights are the only team yet to force a turnover.
Prediction
Army and Tulane are off to somewhat similar starts. Both are 2-2, highlighted by strong ground attacks and run defenses that need improvement. However, they sit on opposite sides of the time of possession spectrum, with Army ranking fourth nationally and Tulane third from the bottom.
The Green Wave offense requires explosives in the run game, while the Black Knights move in a more methodical, sustainable fashion. Neither team is a proven passer, and Tulane may lean even more heavily on the run game than usual to keep its defense fresh.
As usual, Army games come down to the wire. This will be no exception, and the Black Knights prevail at home in a low-scoring affair.
Prediction: Army 21, Tulane 17
