It was a battle between the reigning league champion and a conference newcomer participating in its first-ever AAC matchup. It was a battle between a 3-1 Tulane team and a 1-3 UAB team, with the heavily favored Green Wave enjoying the backdrop of homefield advantage. Yet, it was a battle in New Orleans.
Tulane needed to overcome a 13-point first half deficit to take down a gritty UAB squad led by first-year head coach Trent Dilfer. The 35-23 result on the scoreboard doesn’t do justice to how tightly-contested this matchup was throughout the second half.
The Green Wave put the icing on the cake with 47 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter on a critical 4th and 9 from the UAB 32-yard line.