PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jake Retzlaff passed for two touchdowns and rushed for another score, and No. 24 Tulane beat Temple 37-13 on Saturday to move closer to a spot in the American Conference championship game.
Tulane (9-2, 6-1) can secure a spot in the Dec. 5 title game with a win over 1-10 Charlotte at home next weekend.
At No. 24, Tulane was the lone American Conference representative in the latest College Football Playoff rankings. The upcoming ranking will serve as a tiebreaker for teams that have no head-to-head meetings against one another — which neither Navy nor North Texas have against Tulane.
Patrick Durkin made five field goals for the Green Wave, and Tulane’s defense limited Temple to just 20 yards rushing on 20 attempts and 204 yards of total offense.
Retzlaff set the tone early, finding Shazz Preston for a 69-yard touchdown pass on Tulane’s second offensive play. His 2-yard TD run midway through the second quarter lifted the Green Wave to a 17-7 lead.
Retzlaff threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Justyn Reid and tossed to Anthony Brown-Stephens for the 2-point conversion, making it 34-13 in the fourth quarter.
Temple quarterback Evan Simon was 21 for 32 for 168 yards and two touchdowns. Colin Chase had five receptions for 59 yards and a TD.
The Owls (5-6, 3-4) have dropped three consecutive games.
The Takeaway
Tulane: The Green Wave should remain in the Top 25 in the AP poll and could move up in the CFP rankings depending on other action around the country.
Temple: The Owls need to beat North Texas on Friday to become bowl eligible for the first time since the 2019 season.
Up next
Tulane: Hosts Charlotte next weekend.
Temple: Travels to North Texas on Friday.
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Kevin Cooney, The Associated Press
