In a time when college football is undergoing plenty of change, both Tulane and LSU are looking to bring back a traditional rivalry.
These days, it's hard not to question what the future of college football will look like.
Teams are able to purchase players, even enticing them from other schools. Coaches are often looking for the "next big thing." Old, traditional rules have seemingly started to go out the window year after year.
Yet, there's some exciting news for fans of the Tulane Green Wave: the program's old, storied rivalry against the LSU Tigers, known as The Battle for the Rag, is set to make its return.
Fans are going to have to wait a little while for the official renewal of this rivalry, as the two teams won't meet on the gridiron until the Olive Green and Sky Blue travels to Baton Rouge on August 31st, 2030. Regardless, there's much to be said about the decision made by both administrations to restore a fan-favorite matchup.
Tulane is 22-69-7 all time against the Tigers, and the matchup has always been a bit more difficult for the Green Wave. The teams last met in 2009, with LSU taking home a 42-0 win. Tulane's last victory came in a 31-28 victory on the road back in 1982.
The Battle for the Rag is not a conference matchup, and it probably won't have many postseason implications -- unless the Green Wave wins and it ultimately serves as a major resume-booster. Yet, it means so much to the people of Louisiana. It's something that has seemingly been wanted for years, and it shows that the fans are being listened to, to some extent.
There's no telling what things will look like four years from now. There's already been some talks about expanding the College Football Playoff to up to 24 teams, essentially opening things up for more teams across all conferences to earn a shot at the postseason. Additionally, there are massive debates about eligibility requirements and NIL funding.
Who knows? Both teams could have completely different coaches -- it's not like Lane Kiffin is known for staying in places for very long, and there's no telling what exactly the future will hold for Will Hall.
Despite all of this, The Battle for the Rag shows a desire to maintain tradition, even in the midst of change. Neither program has to play the game, but it sure seems like they want to. It's much more common to schedule easier non-conference games ahead of league play, but both LSU and Tulane are putting value on bringing back a game that truly means something to people in Louisiana and across the Southeast.
That's a step in the right direction. 2030 can't get here soon enough.
