Tulane's Path: Must-Win Games Ahead

Tulane's upcoming schedule presents a series of crucial "must-win" games as they aim to establish themselves as a premier team. The Green Wave are expected to continue their success against teams like Charlotte and Tulsa. This week's matchup is against Rice, a team entering its second year under a new coaching staff.

Rice operates a run-first offense, prioritizing the ground game and featuring a dual-threat quarterback. Their defense proved solid against the run last season but showed weaknesses in pass defense. Tulane must prepare to either physically match Rice's run defense or exploit their vulnerability through the air.

Crucially, Tulane cannot afford to let Rice dominate possession with their running attack. The Green Wave's defense needs to focus on stopping early down runs to force Rice into passing situations. The objective for Tulane is to compel Rice's quarterback to win with his arm rather than his legs.