NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Tulane athletic director David Harris was “embarrassed” by what he called an “alarming” 50-point loss to Tulsa on homecoming weekend, he said in a message posted on the university's athletic website Saturday night.
The performance “by our football program was unacceptable, and far below the standard that we have come to expect in recent years,” Harris' statement said. “I understand the frustration and disappointment that our supporters feel. I am embarrassed by what transpired on the field in front of our student-athletes’ families, alumni, fans and the entire Tulane community.”
Harris, in his third season at Tulane, hired coach Will Hall last offseason after Jon Sumrall accepted the coaching job at Florida.
The 60-10 loss to Tulsa dropped Tulane to 4-5 overall and 2-3 in the American Conference, one season after the Green Wave were one of two teams from non-power conferences to be included in the College Football Playoff.
“We've played better than this,” Hall said. “It's definitely fixable. We've got to fix it and it starts with me.”
Hall did not indicate whether he was considering any staff changes.
“Right now, I'm focused on taking this team and playing much, much better in seven days in Houston at Rice,” he said.
“We did not execute at all. We did some foolish things,” Hall added. “We got to be better and it's got to start immediately.”
Tulsae (5-4, 2-3) led 46-0 before Tulane got on the board with Cooper Helmke’s 38-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter.
Tulane’s touchdown came on a 4-yard pass from Dagan Bruno to Bredell Richardson with 2 seconds left in the game.
“While any loss is difficult to accept, today’s defeat was particularly alarming, given the point differential,” Harris said. “This season has not met the expectations of our department. With at least three games remaining ... our responsibility is to respond with urgency.
“I am accountable for Tulane Athletics and the performance of our teams,” Harris added. “We will continue to make an investment in our football program that matches the expectations we have.”
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FILE - Incoming Tulane football coach Will Hall watches his players in the first round of the NCAA College Football Playoff against Mississippi, on Dec. 20, 2025, in Oxford, Miss. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Pat Fitzgerald's long wait is over.
Liam Boyd made five field goals on five attempts and Michigan State's defense forced four turnovers and had five sacks in a 15-6 win over Michigan on Saturday night.
The Spartans (3-6, 1-5 Big Ten) snapped a six-game losing streak and helped Fitzgerald end a 13-game Big Ten losing streak, dating to the 2022 season-opening game at Northwestern.
They snatched the Paul Bunyan Trophy that the winner of the rivalry gets to keep after the game and went around the perimeter of the field to enjoy the moment with green-and-white clad fans in the Big House that didn't have many Michigan fans in the stands for the final minutes.
“To see our fan base and celebrate with them is something I'll never, ever forget," Fitzgerald said. “We know we’re not going to Indianapolis (for the Big Ten championship game), but today was the state championship and we’re 1-0."
The Wolverines (5-4, 2-4) scored with 1:35 left on Savion Hiter's 1-yard run to avoid being shut out for the first time since 2014 and Tommy Carr was sacked on a 2-point conversion to seal the defeat.
In a matchup of two of the worst offenses in college football, points were precious.
Michigan State connected on two field goals to take a 6-0 lead at halftime.
The Spartans went ahead 9-0 late in the third quarter with another kick that capped a 17-play, 79-yard drive that started at their 1 and took nearly 11 minutes off the clock.
Michigan was held scoreless in the first half for a third straight home game. The last time the Wolverines didn't have a point by halftime three times in a season was 1979, according to Sportradar.
Michigan had a chance to score in the second quarter, but Jacob Baggett hit the left upright on a 26-yard kick for the team's fifth missed field goal in three games.
“It was kind of deflating at that point,” coach Kyle Whittingham said.
After Trey Butkowski missed four field goals in the previous two games, he lost his job to Baggett in a competition during practice.
Michigan State's Alessio Milivojevic, who missed the previous game with an injury, was 21 of 32 for 188 yards without a turnover. Milivojevic threw six passes for 92 yards to Chrishon McCray.
Brandon Tullis ran for a career-high 86 yards for the Spartans, making the most of opportunities to play with four running backs out with injuries.
Michigan's Tommy Carr was 14 of 26 for 138 yards with two interceptions. Running back Bryson Kuzdzal and receiver Andrew Marsh each lost a fumble in the second half.
The Wolverines were held to 54 yards rushing on 26 carries.
“I can’t come up with one positive offensively,” Whittingham said.
Michigan State: Fitzgerald and his players desperately needed a victory after going 0-5 in the Big Ten, following a loss to the Fighting Irish, and it will be a little sweeter that the win was the Spartans' first against their rival since 2021.
“I told you when I took this job that one game means more,” Fitzgerald said.
Michigan: Whittingham's debut season has fallen short of expectations after being ranked No. 16 in the preseason AP Top 25 with an offensively challenged team that hasn't been able to take advantage of having a strong defense.
“As disappointed as I’ve ever been as a head coach,” said Whittingham, whose debut season was in 2004 at Utah.
Michigan State hosts Washington (5-4, 2-4) on Saturday.
Michigan plays at Oregon (6-3, 4-2) on Saturday.
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Michigan quarterback Tommy Carr (14) eludes Michigan State defensive back Nikai Martinez (21) as he scrambles out of the pocket in the first quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Lon Horwedel)
