Tulane does not play on Saturday, October 3. The Green Wave has an open date before beginning American Conference play at Army on Saturday, October 10, at 11 a.m. Central. The game in West Point will air on CBS Sports Network, as listed in Army’s television announcement.
The is another Wave Win!#RollWave 🌊 pic.twitter.com/tdVozJoOZN
— Tulane Football (@GreenWaveFB) September 27, 2026
The break comes with Tulane at 2–2 and a chance to turn a dramatic win into steadier football. A 24–21 comeback over Southern Miss restored some momentum. The next step is to travel with a plan that does not depend on another late escape.
The Southern Miss win offered a foundation
Maurice Turner supplied the biggest offensive lift against Southern Miss. Tulane’s official box score lists 202 rushing yards and two touchdowns, including the 74-yard scoring run that put the Green Wave ahead in the fourth quarter. Josh Lewis then blocked Southern Miss’ potential tying field goal.
Those plays demonstrated the value of finishing. They also give Tulane a useful question for the bye: how can the offense produce more dependable possessions before the game reaches its final minutes?
A long touchdown changes a scoreboard quickly. A series of productive first downs changes how a team can manage the entire game. The Green Wave needs both, particularly when it heads into a road matchup where wasted possessions can become expensive.
Our Southern Miss recap breaks down how Tulane secured that comeback.
Use the extra week to sharpen the road approach
Tulane’s first two trips ended in losses at Duke and Kansas State. That makes the Army game an opportunity to show a different level of road execution.
The practical priorities are straightforward. Communicate clearly before the snap. Avoid penalties that turn workable downs into long-yardage situations. Keep a stalled series from becoming a turnover. Each of those details helps an offense stay organized when the home crowd is trying to disrupt it.
The bye also creates time to rehearse the situations that can decide a tight game: third down, red-zone possessions, the two-minute offense and substitutions after a change of possession. Tulane has already shown it can answer late pressure. Improving the possessions before that pressure arrives would make the team less dependent on a final rescue.
Army puts assignment discipline in focus
Tulane’s defensive preparation should emphasize responsibilities and tackling against Army’s ground-oriented attack. Chasing the ball without respecting an assignment can create an opening somewhere else. Finishing a tackle matters as much as getting to the right spot.
On offense, the Green Wave should aim to make each possession count. That does not require rushing every snap. It requires making useful decisions, converting manageable third downs and getting points when a drive reaches scoring range.
Army plays at Louisiana Tech on October 3 before hosting Tulane. The Green Wave will have another current game to study during its open weekend, offering a practical look at the challenge ahead.
A conference start with a quick turnaround
Tulane’s official schedule has Memphis visiting Yulman Stadium on Friday, October 16, six days after the Army game. Preparation during this break matters for more than one Saturday.
Tulane should enter conference play with a clearer plan for how it wants to move the ball, handle road communication and close possessions. The Southern Miss victory gave the Green Wave momentum. The bye is its chance to turn that momentum into repeatable habits.
This weekend’s progress will be measured in preparation. The next scoreboard test arrives October 10.