Tulane were scheduled to welcome Southern Miss to Yulman Stadium on Tuesday night for a 6:00 p.m. CT kickoff in the Battle for the Bell, with the Green Wave going in as 18.5-point favourites. That alone tells you the expectation level, but this is still a rivalry game where Tulane will need to do the simple things well if they want to control it from the start.
The clearest message around this matchup is that Tulane's identity is built around the run game. If they establish that early, they give themselves the best chance of settling the contest, shortening the game and keeping Southern Miss under pressure for longer spells. In a rivalry setting, that kind of control matters just as much as scoreline margin.
Tulane's run game should set the tone
For Tulane, the formula is straightforward. They need to commit to the ground game, stay patient and avoid turning the night into a loose, back-and-forth shootout. The heavier the Green Wave lean on the run, the more they can force Southern Miss to defend on Tulane's terms.
That is particularly relevant because the defensive front is no longer being described as inexperienced. With additions and returning players, Tulane's line has enough stability to help shape the game at the point of attack. In a contest framed around physicality, that is a meaningful edge.
Southern Miss and the quarterback question
The other key detail is at quarterback for Southern Miss, where the expectation was that Jamauri McClure would be back after the Open Date next week. That means Tulane were preparing for a rivalry game with the added uncertainty that comes whenever a team is managing its quarterback situation across a short run of games.
Southern Miss will still need to find a way to compete physically if they are to make this more difficult than the betting line suggests. But if Tulane handle the run game well and let their defensive front do its work, the Green Wave should have enough to justify the favourite's tag.
In the end, this looks like a night where Tulane's identity should matter most. If they play to that strength, the Battle for the Bell can become less about drama and more about control.
