Duke just dropped a 17-3 hammer on Tulane in Durham, exacting some serious revenge after last September’s wild 34-27 Green Wave victory that actually decided a College Football Playoff spot. This wasn’t just a loss, it was the lowest-scoring FBS matchup of the young season, and frankly, Tulane’s offense looked like it was stuck in mud from the jump.
Offense Went Absolutely Nowhere
Look, the score says it all: three points. Tulane was completely shut out of the end zone, their first game without a touchdown since a brutal 24-6 loss to Auburn way back in 2019. That’s a long time ago, folks. The Green Wave managed a measly 258 total yards and punted *seven* times on their first ten possessions. Think about that: four of those were straight-up three-and-outs! They never even took a snap inside the 19-yard line. The closest they got was to the Duke 17 on a big 39-yard connection from Kadin Semonza to Destyn Hill, but then boom, Hill gets stripped by Duke linebacker Luke Mergott. Mergott, who sealed Duke’s ACC Championship last December with a game-winning interception, was a menace all afternoon, piling up six tackles and getting pressure on the Green Wave backfield. That turnover felt like it crushed any chance they had to get back in it.
Penalty Plague and QB Carousel Nightmare
But the offense wasn’t the only problem. Tulane committed a staggering 15 penalties for 104 yards! That’s three more flags than any other FBS team drew in Week 1. You just can’t win when you’re giving away that much yardage and killing drives with your own mistakes. It’s undisciplined, and it’s frustrating to watch. On top of that, new head coach Will Hall, who’s got big shoes to fill after Tulane’s four straight conference championship appearances, was rotating quarterbacks. Zeon Chriss-Gremillion, named QB1 before kickoff, offered some mobility, going 6-of-9 for 64 passing yards and adding 15 on the ground. But Kadin Semonza, who came in, put up more passing yards (11-of-21 for 140) but also took more sacks. They’re searching for a long-term solution, and it showed. The Green Wave, usually dominant in the trenches, couldn’t push Duke’s defensive front, which makes sense when you only return one starter on the offensive line.
This opener proves there’s a ton of work ahead for Tulane if they want to keep that conference championship streak alive. They’ve got to clean up those penalties and find an offensive identity, and fast. You can bet Coach Hall is already burning the midnight oil trying to figure it out before the next kickoff.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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