The Pac-12 conference went from two programs to six last week with the announcement that Boise State, San Diego State, Fresno State, and Colorado State are leaving the Mountain West to join Oregon State and Washington State starting in 2026.
That puts the Pac-12 75% of the way to forming an FBS conference, where a minimum of eight is needed. Rumors have been swirling since the moment the announcement was made, including discussion on whether Cal and Stanford could come back after joining the ACC, if the Pac-12 would consider non-football schools like Gonzaga, and if there are other Mountain West schools – namely UNLV – that could be targeted next.
Perhaps the most notable programs discussed for continued Pac-12 expansion come from the American conference, with both Memphis and Tulane cited as targets for the Pac-12 by longtime beat reporter John Canzano.
Memphis was one of the first programs we analyzed as a candidate for the new look Pac-12, and today we take a look at the Tulane Green Wave – who make a logical travel partner with Memphis if paired together.
The Pros
Big Willie Fritz put this program on the map with a stellar run as head coach from 2015-2023, with Tulane going 54-47 in that stretch and 3-1 in bowl games, including a Cotton Bowl victory after an outstanding 2022 season.
Tulane struggled when they initially got into the American conference, but went 15-1 combined in 2022 and 2023. New coach Jon Sumrall has big shoes to fill to keep this program among the top shelf teams in the conference, but if he’s able to do so the Green Wave will remain one of the top Group of Five teams in the country – and an ideal pickup for the Pac-12.
Tulane is also located in the heart of New Orleans, the 50th largest media market in the country and a city filled with passionate football fans thanks to the success of the Saints at the NFL level.
Adding a footprint in that kind of media market is a big win for the Pac-12, and pairing them with Memphis makes sense for both programs as well.
The Cons
Tulane has a smaller student population than the schools currently in the Pac-12, as well as other programs being targeted, with a student body of roughly 14,500 – about half the enrollment at Colorado State and Fresno State and well below enrollment numbers at UTSA and Memphis.
Plus, as previously mentioned, Tulane’s football success is relatively recent. The Green Wave appeared in just two bowl games between 1999 and 2018, a Hawaii Bowl victory in 2002 in an 8-5 season and a loss in the New Orleans Bowl in 2013 coming off a 7-6 year. It’s too early to know if coach Sumrall is going to build on the momentum started by Fritz or not, and for the Pac-12 adding this program and hoping they don’t backslide is a bit of a risk.
Additionally, Tulane adds very little to the other revenue generating sport – men’s basketball. The Green Wave have not made the NCAA Tournament since 1995, and they are the 162nd ranked program in college basketball dating back to 1997 when Ken Pomeroy’s data begins.
Tulane went 5-13 in conference play last year, finishing 136th at KenPom, although they did win 20 games the previous season. Still, this is not a team that would move the needle in men’s basketball – which could give conference leadership some pause.
The league already added a marquee basketball brand in San Diego State, and if they are considering bringing in Memphis or even non-football schools like Gonzaga or St. Mary’s, a school like Tulane would be an outlier.
Verdict
New Orleans is an appealing media market for the Pac-12, and Tulane makes an obvious travel partner with Memphis. However, the program’s lack of long term success on the gridiron, and complete inability to compete in basketball, could make Tulane a risky addition for the conference.
Plus, while New Orleans is a nice market, getting a footprint in Texas should be the Pac-12’s top priority – which could make someone like UTSA or even Rice a more appealing option.