In a thrilling battle at Yulman Stadium, Tulane's Green Wave came tantalizingly close to pulling off a major upset but fell just short in a 34-27 loss to Kansas State. Leading by 10 points at halftime, Tulane fought hard until the final seconds, when a controversial offensive interference call dashed their hopes of tying the game.
First-Half Dominance by Tulane
The Green Wave took control early, moving the ball with ease and keeping Kansas State’s defense off-balance with a mix of precision passing and powerful runs. Quarterback Darian Mensah was locked in from the start, finishing the first half with 218 passing yards and a touchdown. His connection with wide receiver Dontae Fleming on a 53-yard strike set the tone, followed by a Makhi Hughes 3-yard touchdown run to put Tulane on top 7-3 at the end of the first quarter.
Tulane extended their lead to 20-10 by halftime, highlighted by Mensah’s pinpoint accuracy and Hughes’ hard-nosed rushing, which kept the Wildcats’ defense guessing. Hughes was a force, racking up 131 yards on the ground, consistently finding holes in the K-State front seven. The Green Wave also took advantage of K-State's slow start on offense, as Avery Johnson struggled to find rhythm early.
Wildcats’ Second-Half Resurgence
Despite trailing by double digits, Kansas State came out of halftime a different team. The Wildcats’ defense, which had been battered in the first half, made key adjustments that shifted the momentum in their favor. After Tulane punted on its first possession of the second half, Kansas State methodically drove downfield, resulting in a Chris Tennant 28-yard field goal to make it a one-possession game at 20-13.
On their next possession, K-State converted a crucial fourth-down play with a 45-yard bomb from Johnson to running back DJ Giddens, tying the game at 20-20 late in the third quarter. This sparked a back-and-forth scoring spree, with both teams trading touchdowns in the early moments of the fourth quarter.
The Turnover That Changed Everything
With Tulane knocking on the door of Kansas State's red zone early in the fourth, the Wildcats made a game-changing defensive play. Freshman linebacker Austin Romaine came off the edge and strip-sacked Mensah, allowing Jack Fabris to scoop up the ball and race 60 yards for a touchdown. The turnover not only gave K-State its first lead since 3-0, but it also shifted the momentum heavily in favor of the Wildcats.
Now leading 34-27 with just over 10 minutes to play, K-State forced Tulane into desperation mode. Despite the setback, Mensah responded with poise, driving the Green Wave into the Wildcats’ red zone in the final minutes. Tulane’s offense was primed to tie the game after Mensah found Yulkeith Brown for a short touchdown, but an offensive pass interference penalty wiped the score off the board.
Late-Game Drama
With time running out, Tulane still had one more chance. On second down from the K-State 16-yard line, Mensah lofted a pass into the end zone, but Wildcats’ safety VJ Payne came down with a game-sealing interception. It was a crushing end for the Green Wave, who had dominated large stretches of the game but were undone by late mistakes and missed opportunities.
What’s Next for Tulane?
Despite the loss, Tulane has much to be optimistic about. Mensah’s 342-yard, two-touchdown performance showed that he can command the offense under pressure, and the Green Wave’s run game was strong, thanks to Hughes’ 131-yard effort. However, they’ll need to address late-game execution, particularly when it comes to penalties and ball security, if they want to make a serious run in the AAC this season.
Tulane’s defense also deserves credit for containing K-State in the first half, but their inability to force turnovers or pressure Johnson consistently in the second half proved costly. Head coach Willie Fritz will certainly look to clean up the team’s defensive lapses as they prepare for the next game.
Final Thoughts
Though Tulane fell short, they put the rest of the conference on notice with their impressive play against a Big 12 opponent. The Green Wave has the talent and tenacity to challenge anyone in the AAC, but finishing strong will be the key to their success this season.
Key Performances:
Darian Mensah (Tulane): 342 yards passing, 2 TDs, 1 INT
Makhi Hughes (Tulane): 131 rushing yards, 1 TD
Avery Johnson (K-State): 181 passing yards, 2 TDs
DJ Giddens (K-State): 118 rushing yards, 45-yard receiving TD
Austin Romaine (K-State): Strip sack that led to game-winning TD
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