NEW ORLEANS (Interstat) — Tulane scored the decisive touchdown with 1:17 remaining and held on to beat South Alabama 28-24 on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, at Yulman Stadium. The Green Wave improved to 1-1, and the Jaguars also moved to 1-1 after the nonconference NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision game. South Alabama was the visiting team in a contest that swung back and forth into the fourth quarter. Tulane’s final drive capped a game that had already featured big plays, missed kicks and answered scores.

South Alabama opened the scoring with Davis Little’s 40-yard field goal at the 8:03 mark of the first quarter. Tulane’s Jackson Courville missed a 45-yard field goal attempt later in the period. The Jaguars extended their lead when PJ Martin broke through the middle for a 16-yard touchdown run with 1:31 left in the first quarter. Little’s extra point made it a two-score game. South Alabama’s early ground success and steady field position put Tulane in catch-up mode. The Jaguars controlled the opening period and forced Tulane to play from behind.

Tulane responded in the second quarter. J. Daniels scored on a 2-yard run with 14:57 remaining, and Courville added the extra point. Daniels struck again with a 3-yard touchdown run with 1:55 left before halftime. Courville’s kick again was good. The two scoring drives pulled Tulane in front after South Alabama had controlled the opening quarter. South Alabama went into the break having been held scoreless in the second quarter. Tulane’s offense found traction on the ground and kept the Jaguars off the scoreboard over the final 15 minutes of the half.

The third quarter brought more swings. South Alabama quarterback Bishop Davenport completed a deep pass to Anthony Eager, who caught the ball near the Tulane 4-yard line and finished a 43-yard touchdown play with 12:17 remaining. Davis Little’s extra point gave South Alabama the lead again. Later in the quarter, Little attempted a 34-yard field goal but missed. Tulane then answered when J. Lucas ran right for an 80-yard touchdown with 4:53 left. Courville’s extra point put Tulane back in front. The long run changed field position in an instant and gave the Green Wave momentum.

In the fourth quarter, South Alabama reclaimed the advantage. Davenport connected with Brendan Jenkins on a short pass to the right, and Jenkins turned it into a 17-yard touchdown with 11:49 remaining. Little’s extra point made it a three-point South Alabama lead. The Jaguars defense then tried to protect the margin, but Tulane’s offense found its rhythm on the final possession. Kadin Semonza completed a short pass to the left to D. Hill, who reached the end zone for a 14-yard touchdown with 1:17 remaining. Courville’s extra point provided the final margin. South Alabama had one last chance but could not produce another score.

Davenport’s two touchdown passes and Martin’s scoring run paced South Alabama. Eager’s 43-yard catch-and-run was the Jaguars’ longest offensive play of the night. Jenkins added the fourth-quarter score that briefly put South Alabama ahead. Little made a field goal and extra points, while also missing a 34-yard attempt. South Alabama finished with 24 points and fell to 1-1 after opening the season with a 39-14 home win over Southeastern Louisiana on Sept. 5. The Jaguars will next host Ohio on Saturday, Sept. 19.

Tulane’s offense leaned on Daniels’ two short touchdown runs and Lucas’ 80-yard burst. Semonza delivered the decisive throw to D. Hill in the final two minutes. Courville made his extra-point attempts after a missed 45-yard field goal in the first quarter. The Green Wave evened their record at 1-1 after a 17-3 road loss at Duke on Sept. 5. Tulane will travel to Kansas State on Saturday, Sept. 19. Tulane also received listed contributions from Kadin Semonza, Geordan Guidry, Anthony Brown-Stephens, Bredell Richardson, Ty Thompson, Dawson Johnson, Dickson Agu, Kevin Adams III, Jack Tchienchou, Makai Williams, Anthony Rogers, Reshad Sterling, Kameron Hamilton, E’zaiah Shine, Warren Roberts Jr., Garrett Mmahat, Macho Stevenson, Chase Green, Ed Smith IV, Jah’rie Garner, Josh Sims, Dalton Hughes, Kajuan Banks, Chris Rodgers, Armani Cargo, Josh Lewis, Dorion Jackson, TJ Smith, Jackson Courville and William Hudlow.

South Alabama’s listed key performers included Jaylen Moson, PJ Martin, Keenan Phillips, Trae’von Dunbar, Brendan Jenkins, Anthony Eager, Jeremiah Jones-Thomas, Micah Woods, Rod Gibbs, Cole Blaylock, Dallas Young, Mase Lewis, Parker Shattuck, D.J. Moore, Tre’Mon Henry, Cash Semonza, Stephen Johnson, Jordan Williams and Tyler Carter. Bishop Davenport, a 6-foot-2, 180-pound quarterback from Spring, Texas, was among the Jaguars’ top contributors. Kadin Semonza, a 6-foot-1, 190-pound quarterback from Mission Viejo, California, led Tulane’s final scoring drive. The game was played at Yulman Stadium in New Orleans. South Alabama’s record is now 1-1, and Tulane’s record is also 1-1.

The nonconference matchup gave both teams a final tune-up before continuing their seasons. South Alabama returns home to face Ohio before a road game at Kentucky on Sept. 26. Tulane heads to Kansas State before hosting Southern Mississippi on Sept. 26. Both programs will look to build on the early-season split and find consistency on offense. The Jaguars showed flashes with their passing game and running attack, while the Green Wave relied on timely plays and a late scoring drive.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Tulane 42, South Alabama 33. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Tulane with a 94.6 percent probability to win. The actual result was much closer, as South Alabama led in the fourth quarter before Tulane’s late touchdown. The projections were not borne out in the final margin, though Tulane did emerge with the victory.