American · 2026

Tulane

2025 record 11–3 AAC champs conference
Postseason AAC Championship W 34–21 vs North Texas; CFP First Round L 41–10 vs Ole Miss; finished #18
Head coach Will Hall Year 1; 14–30 at Southern Miss
Scheme West Coast / 4-2-5
Conference
B−

Championship DNA + overall #1 recruiting vs Hall FBS track record, unsettled QB, thin DL

Portal
C+

Portal #7; real story is overall #1 high-school pipeline depth

Depth
C+

Secondary/LB + McClure/Lewis; DL two-deep is the hole

Market odds

To Win AAC
Yes 0.00%
No 0.00%
To Make Conf. Championship
Yes 0.00%
No 0.00%
Over 6.5 wins
Yes 0.00%
No 0.00%

Recruiting ranks

Overall #1 41 commits · 206.28 pts
Portal #7 21 commits· avg 84.42

Roster notes

Leading story

Third HC in three cycles (Fritz → Sumrall → Hall)

QB

Kadin Semonza (Ball State 2024 MAC FOY) listed ahead of Zeon Chriss-Gremillion; Jake Retzlaff’s eligibility ended after 2025

RB

Jaylin Lucas (FSU) listed over Jamauri McClure (540 yds, late surge)

WR

Anthony Brown-Stephens / Zycarl Lewis Jr. return; Destyn Hill portal

Defense

Jack Tchienchou (First Team All-AAC, CCG MOP) and Chris Rodgers return; top-four DL departed — Ed Smith (South Alabama) is the clearest portal DT

Key offense

  1. 01
    Kadin Semonza QB
    Returning2025 portal
    • Ball State → Tulane
    • 2024 MAC Freshman of the Year: 275/427, 2,904 yds, 25 TD, 10 INT
    • Sat/backup behind Retzlaff in 2025 (regular season)
  2. 02
    Jamauri McClure RB
    Returning
    • 2025 (incl. bowl): 83 carries, 540 yds, 2 rushing TD (6.5 YPC)
    • final five games exactly 490 yards (94+122+69+121+84). Athlon 2026 preseason 1st-team AAC
  3. 03
    Anthony Brown-Stephens WR
    Returning
    • 2025 (incl. bowl): 41 receptions, 523 yds (2nd on team)
    • Jaylin Lucas (Indiana/FSU portal) is the wild-card skill add — career KR star, Athlon preseason KR 1st team

Key defense

  1. 01
    Jack Tchienchou S
    Returning
    • 2025 (incl. bowl): 83 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 1 sack, 2 INT, 3 PBU
    • First Team All-AAC
    • AAC Championship Most Outstanding Player
  2. 02
    Chris Rodgers LB
    Returning
    • Troy → Tulane
    • 2025 (incl. bowl): 80 tackles, 7 TFL, 2.5 sacks, 1 INT, 1 FF in 14 starts
  3. 03
    E’zaiah Shine CB
    Returning
    • 2025 (incl. bowl): 41 tackles, 2 TFL, 7 PBU, 1 FR in 14 starts
    • Athlon preseason 3rd team