Tulane, Army Hope to Punctuate Superb Seasons With AAC Title

Dec 5, 20243 min read

Updated: Dec 8, 2024

The No. 24 Army Black Knights (10-1, 8-0 American Athletic Conference) are set to host the Tulane Green Wave (9-3, 7-1) in the AAC Championship game in West Point, N.Y. on Dec. 6. While both teams will fall just short of the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff, there is still plenty on the line as the two conference foes prepare to face off.

See how our picks stack up compared to odds across betting sites.

What's at Stake?

Coming off a 6-6 campaign in 2023, expectations were tempered for the Black Knights as an AAC newcomer in 2024. Army quickly rose to the forefront of national attention, however, with nine straight dominating wins to start the season. The No. 4 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (11-1) put to rest the Black Knights' CFP hopes with a blowout win on Nov. 23, but Army rebounded with a hard-fought win over the UTSA Roadrunners (6-6, 4-4) to finish undefeated in conference play. A win in the AAC championship would set Army up for a quality bowl berth and reinforce the positive momentum of the program in head coach Jeff Monken's 11th year at the helm.

Unlike Army, Tulane had high expectations as a potential playoff candidate from the beginning of the season. After a slow start against a brutal non-conference slate, the Green Wave swept through their AAC schedule to resurface at the fringe of the playoff conversation. With expectations renewed, though, Tulane collapsed in their season finale against the Memphis Tigers (10-2, 6-2) to put an end to their outside hopes of a playoff berth. Still, head coach Jon Sumrall's first year at the helm has shown plenty of promise, and a conference title win would go a long way to showing that he can carry on Tulane's elite stature in the AAC.

Key Players: Army Black Knights

Bryson Daily, Quarterback

Daily has not just been the best player on his team this year—he has been one of the top playmakers in all of college football. His 25 rushing touchdowns are tied for the most in AAC history, and he has rushed for multiple touchdowns in 8 consecutive games. He has been an unstoppable force at the helm of Army's option offense, making intelligent decisions and never shying away from a hit. Against a stout Tulane defense, Daily's leadership and poise will need to shine to give the Black Knights a fighting chance.

Andon Thomas, Linebacker

In Tulane's loss to Memphis, the Green Wave struggled to run the ball, managing just 57 rush yards on 18 carries. As a result, the ball was forced into the hands of inexperienced quarterback Darian Mensah, and Memphis was able to take advantage of Mensah's poor decision making late in the game. As the team leader in tackles, Thomas has been a dynamic force in the front seven for Army. If Thomas and the defensive line can bottle up the Green Wave's rushing attack, they should have plenty of success getting the high-flying Tulane offense off the field.

Key Players: Tulane Green Wave

Makhi Hughes, Running Back

Hughes has been a dynamic rusher for the Green Wave this season, piling up over 1,300 yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground. Against Memphis, however, Hughes managed just 15 yards on 9 carries. The Green Wave offense relies heavily on Hughes' ability to gain consistent yards on the ground, and he will be tasked with rediscovering his form against the Black Knights' formidable defensive front.

Patrick Jenkins, Defensive Lineman

The senior lineman has been a key part of a disruptive Green Wave defense that has allowed just 18.4 points per game and 304 yards per game. He has garnered a team-leading 4.5 sacks this year and will be tasked with slowing down the bruising Black Knights option offense. Army has the most success when they are working the ball methodically down the field, so the key for Jenkins and the rest of the defense will be putting the offense behind the chains with disruptive plays and getting off the field on third down.

Trends to Watch

Tulane is making its third straight conference title appearance and has a chance to win 10 games for the third straight season. The Black Knights, in contrast, will be playing for their first conference championship in school history.