Tulane might have fumbled its chance to make the College Football Playoff.
Green Wave wide receiver Yulkeith Brown’s 40-yard reception on a 3rd-and-7 during Tulane’s opening drive of the second half turned into a disaster after Memphis defensive back Kourtlan Marsh forced a fumble inside the Memphis 20-yard line.
Tigers defensive back AJ Watts recovered the loose ball and returned it 37 yards.
Memphis scored a touchdown five plays later to complete the potential 14-point swing.
Running back Greg Desrosiers Jr. scored on a 29-yard scamper, his third touchdown.
CFP No. 17 Tulane (9-2, 7-0 in AAC) entered Week 14 as the top-ranked AAC team and one spot behind the highest-ranked Big 12 program, No. 16 Arizona State (9-2, 6-2 in Big 12).
The Green Wave could qualify for the 12-team CFP field as the fifth-highest-ranked conference champion, but a loss to Memphis would erase that possibility.
Brown’s fumble and the Tigers’ subsequent touchdown have made that more likely.
At the end of the third quarter, Tulane trailed 24-10.
