It was an extended shot, however the No. 17 Tulane Inexperienced Wave nonetheless had a considerably sensible path to the School Soccer Playoff getting into Thursday’s recreation in opposition to Memphis.
That path is now just about gone following an unsightly 34-24 defeat that handed them a 3rd loss on the season and can nearly definitely drop them down the rankings within the subsequent School Soccer Playoff rankings that will get launched on Tuesday.
Tulane was already going through a troublesome path given the energy of the AAC and the very fact it already had two losses on the season and misplaced its solely two video games in opposition to ranked opponents. But when it beat Memphis on Saturday after which gained the AAC Championship Sport in opposition to Military subsequent week, it might have had an opportunity, relying on what occurred with the Large 12 convention.
The best way the expanded playoff discipline works is the 5 highest-ranked convention champions all earn automated bids into the playoffs. Tulane had an opportunity to steal a type of automated bids from the Large 12. Tulane was only one spot behind the highest-ranked Large 12 workforce (No. 16 Arizona State) within the newest rankings.
Given how the Large 12 championship recreation remains to be up for grabs with 9 groups within the operating, it might not have been laborious to think about Tulane profitable out and sneaking into a type of automated playoff spots.
However now that concept is totally gone.
It was additionally not a very shut recreation.
Tulane was statistically dominated throughout the board, being outgained 454-374, permitting 26 first downs whereas recording simply 15 of its personal and turning the soccer over 3 times whereas getting zero takeaways of its personal.
That doesn’t imply Tulane has nothing to play for in subsequent week’s AAC Championship Sport or a postseason recreation.
The convention title remains to be up for grabs, and if Tulane can win it, that will be two AAC titles in a three-year span. Beating Military and profitable a bowl recreation would additionally give Tulane its third consecutive 11-win season. Previous to the 2022 season, when this run began, this system had gained 11 video games simply three complete occasions in its existence, and two of these had been all the best way again within the Nineteen Thirties. It isn’t a stretch to say that is essentially the most profitable period of Tulane soccer ever.
A playoff spot would have been an unimaginable accomplishment, however there may be nonetheless lots to play for, even with out that.
