Tulane is four days away from making its first College Football Playoff appearance. The Green Wave will face Ole Miss in a first-round matchup on Saturday.
Does Tulane have a legitimate shot to pull off the upset?
"Absolutely do!" former Tulane quarterback and current broadcast analyst Lester Ricard said. "I believe that they have a great chance."
According to Ricard, Green Wave quarterback Jake Retzlaff is much more familiar with his team and with the playbook now than he was during the Week 4 matchup against Ole Miss. Ricard also notes that Tulane's losses to the Rebels and to UTSA have helped shape this squad into what it is today.
"They understand who they are," Ricard said. "They have an identity as a football team. Even with Coach Sumrall leaving, it's been set. They know what they are moving forward."
Ricard believes Tulane will take advantage of Ole Miss having "no Lane" on the sideline. According to Ricard, former Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin's absence could give Tulane the edge it needs to pull off a win.
"Kiffin is the brain of that organization, and with him not being there, this is their best chance," Ricard said. "The pressure is not on Tulane. The pressure is all on Ole Miss. The pressure is on Ole Miss to prove that Lane Kiffin leaving was not the end all, be all for their program."
Ricard says Tulane will still need to help itself in all facets to win. He says the Green Wave defense will need a similar performance to the one it had against North Texas in which the Wave forced five takeaways, including an interception for a touchdown.
"Ole Miss is a formidable opponent," Ricard said. "You have one of the best quarterbacks in the country in Trinidad Chambliss. (Kewan) Lacy, the running back, is phenomenal. They have a great receiving corps. But I think it's tough to beat a team twice no matter the circumstances."
Ricard adds that Tulane will need to dominate in the trenches.
"That offensive line and their ability to run the football: that's what's going to give them a chance to really hit some of those explosive plays against this (Ole Miss) defense," Ricard said.