Tulane forces six turnovers and stuns Memphis 31-17 at Yulman
The Green Wave defense took the ball away six times on Friday night, Oct. 16, TJ Smith returned an interception 76 yards for a touchdown on the final play of the first half, and Tulane beat a Memphis team that arrived as a seven-point favorite, 31-17, for its first American Conference win of the season.
NEW ORLEANS: Tulane picked up the biggest win of the Will Hall era on Friday night, Oct. 16, forcing six Memphis turnovers in a 31-17 upset at Yulman Stadium that gave the Green Wave their first American Conference win of the season.
Memphis arrived at 5-1 as one of the favorites to win the American and as a seven-point favorite on the road, according to the Commercial Appeal. The Tigers leave at 5-2 overall and 2-1 in the conference, while Tulane improves to 3-3 and 1-1 in league play. The Commercial Appeal, the On3 Tiger Sports Report and the Sportradar box score all carried the same final score and records.
The turnovers decided it. Memphis quarterback Marcus Stokes threw three interceptions and lost two fumbles, and running back Manny Covey lost a fumble as well, accounting for all six Tigers turnovers between them, according to the Commercial Appeal takeaways and the KMEZ report of the WDSU coverage. Through its first six games, Memphis had turned the ball over only five times in total.
A freshman start, and a pick-six before halftime
True freshman Trace Johnson made his first career start for Tulane and finished 11 of 21 for 165 yards, according to the Commercial Appeal and On3. After a forced fumble near midfield late in the second quarter, Johnson connected with Destyn Hill for a 38-yard touchdown that gave Tulane its first lead at 13-10, according to KMEZ.
The backbreaking play came on the final snap of the half. Stokes threw an interception that defensive back TJ Smith returned 76 yards for a touchdown as time expired, stretching the lead to 23-10 at halftime. The Commercial Appeal, On3 and the Associated Press report carried by KYNT all described the same play, the same return distance and the same halftime score.
Stokes finished 20 of 37 for 306 yards with two touchdowns and the three interceptions, and Tulane sacked him seven times, according to On3, which also noted that Memphis turned the ball over six times in a game for the first time since 2006 and scored touchdowns on only two of its five trips to the red zone.
Daniels closes it on fourth down
Memphis cut into the lead late, with Stokes connecting with Jemyri Davis for a touchdown that gave the Tigers a chance, according to the Commercial Appeal. Tulane answered the way it had played all night. On a fourth-and-1 with 1:34 remaining, Johnnie Daniels broke free for a 48-yard touchdown run that sealed the 31-17 final, according to the Associated Press report and the Commercial Appeal.
The win keeps a home streak intact as well. The Commercial Appeal noted that Tulane still has not lost at Yulman Stadium since Memphis won there in 2024. Next up, the Green Wave stay home to host UTSA on Saturday, Oct. 24, according to Tulane Athletics, while Memphis goes home to host East Carolina on Thursday, Oct. 22.
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