The Tulane Green Wave football team kicked off their 2025 season in dominating fashion with a 23-3 win over the Northwestern Wildcats.
The resounding roar across college football was felt in all three phases in a victory that highlighted the team’s strength of good situational football.
While each phase had question marks from the roster turnover, special teams had a lot of new faces and questions that were firmly put to bed, particularly by redshirt freshman Patrick Durkin at place kicker.
Durkin earned deserved honors for his performance as he was named the American Conference Special Teams Player of the Week on Monday.
He played a massive role in what was the Green Wave’s first win over a Big Ten team since 1970. Durkin was responsible for nearly half of Tulane’s points.
His 11 points led all conference kickers in scoring as he connected on all three field goals from 22 yards, 31 yards, and 41 yards on Saturday. He also handled kickoffs and all six went for touchbacks.
That unit for the Green Wave lost the place kicker who started the year, the starting punter, and long snapper. All of the players in new roles executed to perfection in the win.
New punter Alec Clark had five punts for 244 yards, averaged 48.8 yards per punt with a long of 70 yards, and had two fall inside the 20-yard line. Clark also held for Durkin on extra points and field goals.
Last season, former punter Will Karoll had trouble executing holds for former left-handed kicker Jacob Barnes.
Durkin eventually assumed the starting role from Barnes when he returned from injury later in the year, in addition to handling kickoffs.
It was a shaky end to the season, but it’s clear the unit won’t repeat that this season with the personnel molding together seamlessly in the opening victory.
Durkin was also joined by redshirt senior quarterback Jake Retzlaff and sophomore defensive back Javion White in conference honors, as the two made the league’s weekly honor roll for their respective performances.
Saturday’s win marked the first home victory for the team over a Power Four conference school since 2003 against the Mississippi State Bulldogs, and the program’s first win over Northwestern since 1956.
With an excellent performance on offense, defense, and special teams, Tulane is poised to make a solid run at the College Football Playoff as the top Group of Five team to beat in the nation.