AMERICAN FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
PRESENTED BY LLH HEALTHCARE
POSTGAME NOTES
No. 20 Tulane 34, No. 24 North Texas 21
Friday, December 5, 2025
Yulman Stadium
New Orleans, Louisiana
- Tulane appeared in their fourth straight championship game – the record for most consecutive appearances and most appearances in the American Championship. The Green Wave fell to Army 35-14 last season.
- This marks the third time that Tulane is hosting – the most in conference history.
- The Mean Green appeared in their first American Conference Championship game and third conference championship game in program history (2017, 2022; CUSA).
- North Texas opened the game with a 15-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that lasted 6:28. QB Drew Mestemaker capped the drive with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Tre Williams III. The 15 plays ties the season long for the Mean Green.
- The Green Wave answered with a 16-play, 81-yard touchdown drive that lasted 8:27. QB Jake Retzlaff capped the drive with a two-yard rushing touchdown on 4th and goal. The 16 plays ties the season long for Tulane.
- Tulane’s Sam Howard forced a fumble on Caleb Hawks with LJ Green returning the ball 34 yards. The Green Wave scored two plays later with a 7-yard touchdown run from Jamauri McClure (12:29).
- North Texas QB Drew Mestemaker (4,129 passing yards) and RB Caleb Hawkins (1,236 rushing yards) have become the first freshman duo in FBS to throw for 3,000 passing yards and rush for 1,000 yards in the last 20 seasons.
- Tulane’s Omari Hayes recovered a muffed punt at the 13 yard line with 47 seconds remaining in the first half. The Green Wave would score six plays later with a two-yard rushing touchdown from Retzlaff.
- Tulane’s Chris Rodgers intercepted Mestemaker and returned it for a touchdown – the first non-offensive touchdown for the Green Wave this season.
- This marks the first time this season North Texas has failed to score 30 points. Their previous low was 31 points against Navy (Nov. 1).
- Jack Tchienchou is the first Tulane player with a forced fumble, fumble recovery and interception in the same game since Trent Mackey in 2010.
- Tulane improves to 7-0 when committing fewer turnovers than their opponent.
- Tulane head coach Jon Sumrall improves to 34-1 in his career when his team finishes with more rushing yards than its opponent.
- Jamauri McClure rushed for over 100 yards for the second time this season
- Tulane’s win improved home teams to 9-2 in the American Championship Game.
- The attendance for the game was 23,986.
Championship Records Set/Tied
Longest Scoring Drive (tied) 16 plays Tulane
Interceptions (tied) 1 Chris Rodgers, Tulane
1 Jack Tchienchou, Tulane
1 Jahiem Johnson, Tulane
Interceptions, Team (tied) 3 Tulane
Miscellaneous
Kickoff time was 8:11 p.m. ET/7:11 p.m. CT and the game ended at 11:50 p.m. ET/10:50 p.m. CT. Game-time temperature at kickoff was 51 degrees with winds from the west at 15 mph. Tulane won the coin toss and deferred to the second half.
#BuiltToRise#
Postgame Press Conferences – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cNmxMliFvs
North Texas head coach Eric Morris, tight end Tre Williams III and safety Will Jones II
Tulane head coach Jon Sumrall, quarterback Jake Retzlaff and safety Jack Tchienchou
