The Tulane Green Wave fan base had one night to enjoy their regular season finale victory with a 27-0 win over the Charlotte 49ers that sends them to host the American Conference Championship before reality came crashing down, as head coach Jon Sumrall was hired to be the next coach of the Florida Gators. 

However, they still have a season to finish out, one that will be led by Sumrall as they push through the Championship and a potential run in the College Football Playoff. While that ranking has yet to come out, the latest AP Top 25 Poll was released and the Green Wave climbed up a spot to No. 21 in the rankings behind their conference championship opponent, the North Texas Mean Green.

Here is the complete list of Week 15 rankings.

1. 1. Ohio State Buckeyes (12-0, 9-0 in Big Ten)
2. 2. Indiana Hoosiers (12-0, 9-0 in Big Ten)
3. 3. Georgia Bulldogs (11-1, 7-1 in SEC)
4. 4. Oregon Ducks (11-1, 8-1 in Big Ten)
5. 5. Texas Tech Red Raiders (11-1, 8-1 in Big 12)
6. 6. Ole Miss Rebels (11-1, 7-1 in SEC)
7. 7. Texas A&M Aggies (11-1, 7-1 in SEC)
8. 8. Oklahoma Sooners (10-2, 6-2 in SEC)
9. 9. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (10-2)
10. 10. Alabama Crimson Tide (10-2, 7-1 in SEC)
11. 11. BYU Cougars (11-1, 8-1 in Big 12)
12. 12. Miami Hurricanes (Fla.) (10-2, 6-2 in ACC)
13. 13. Vanderbilt Commodores (9-2, 5-2 in SEC)
14. 14. Texas Longhorns (9-3, 6-2 in SEC)
15. 15. Utah Utes (10-2, 7-2 in Big 12)
16. 16. Virginia Cavaliers (10-2, 7-1 in ACC)
17. 17. USC Trojans (9-3, 7-2 in Big Ten)
18. 18. Michigan Wolverines (9-3, 7-2 in Big Ten)
19. 19. James Madison Dukes (11-1, 8-0 in Sun Belt)
20. 20. North Texas Mean Green (11-1, 7-1 in American)
21. 21. Tulane Green Wave (10-2, 7-1 in American)
22. 22. Arizona Wildcats (9-3, 6-3 in Big 12)
23. 23. Navy Midshipmen (9-2, 7-1 in American)
24. 24. Georgia Tech Yellowjackets (9-3, 6-2 in ACC)
25. 25. Missouri Tigers (8-4, 4-4 in SEC)

Now, the only rankings that matter for the Green Wave moving forward are the College Football Playoff rankings that will determine whether a win in the American championship this Saturday sends the victor to the College Football Playoff.

While the AP Top 25 has favored the James Madison Dukes and North Texas Mean Green, the CFP Committee has favored the strength of wins by Tulane, and assuredly that would include a win against the high-octane Mean Green offense this Friday.