Could Tulane Make Jump to Power Four Conference?
· Yahoo Sports
It seems like the conference realignment talks never truly end, and more often than not, the Tulane Green Wave is a team that is brought up for a potential big move.
The Green Wave has found success in the American Conference in recent years, and there's never been a better time to make the jump to a bigger conference. While the Pac-12 seems the most likely right now due to the fact that it is actively rebranding and finding new members, it's not the most logical choice for Tulane: the majority of its programs are located on the West Coast or Pacific Northwest.
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Rather, what would happen if the Green Wave made a jump to a Power Four conference? The team was part of the Southeastern Conference long ago, but it might be too ambitious to consider a return to that league, especially since it recently added the Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners. The Atlantic Coast Conference, however, seems like a more feasible landing spot. The Olive Green and Sky Blue is already in decently close proximity to some of the conference's core schools, and on a university level, it aligns well academically.
Football is the obvious moneymaker, and Tulane has made history in recent seasons. The team took down the eventual ACC Champion Duke Blue Devils early in the 2025 season and ended the year with its first-ever College Football Playoff appearance. If its current trajectory continues, then the program has what it takes to compete with many of the ACC's teams.
Of course, it's important to remember that every sport should be taken into consideration when there is a possibility to make a big jump. Tulane has a storied tradition in college baseball, but the team would likely struggle a bit more against a loaded field in the ACC. Both basketball programs would also take a hit. Most of the the other sports in Uptown would probably fare about as well as they have thus far, but a few programs would likely have to align with other conferences to have enough quality league opponents; the beach volleyball and bowling programs are currently members of Conference USA due to this issue.
It would be a high risk, high reward scenario.
On one hand, the Green Wave would receive more national exposure and the benefits that come with being a P4 institution. Many of the university's teams would probably see a boost in recruiting as well, with regional student-athletes having the chance to play in a strong league.
On the other hand, the size of other programs might be too much for a smaller private university like Tulane to compete against. There's a stark difference between the Green Wave and universities such as the Florida State Seminoles or Clemson Tigers. If the athletic department as a whole slipped, then it would be hard to recover without potentially having to move conferences again.
The entire conversation surrounding conference realignment is interesting, especially as the strongest Group of Six universities are all vying for just a handful of spots. If Tulane makes that jump, it could be sooner rather than later... but the decision doesn't appear to be imminent.