Tulsa has had two straight sub .500 seasons, but it wasn’t that long ago the Golden Hurricane were a factor in the American Athletic Conference. As recently as 2020, Tulsa played in the AAC championship game, losing to Cincinnati 27-24.
Still, the Golden Hurricane, 4-8 last year in Kevin Wilson’s first season as head coach, have a long way to go to return to contention. And regardless of who emerges as the starter, Tulsa will be young at quarterback.
In simple terms, the Golden Hurricane have to be improved on offense and defense to move the needle. Last season, they averaged 23.4 points, which was 92nd in the nation. Tulsa allowed 33.8 points per game, which was 117th.
Tulsa Football’s Betting Odds and Over/Under Win Total
Tulsa’s odds to win the American Athletic Conference are +4000, via BetMGM.
Tulsa Football’s Betting Odds & Over/Under Win Total
Tulsa’s win total Over/Under is 4.5, with Under 4.5 at -105 and Over 4.5 at -115.
Tulsa Football’s 2024 Schedule
8/29 vs Northwestern State
9/7 at Arkansas State
9/14 vs Oklahoma State
9/21 at Louisiana Tech
9/28 at North Texas
10/5 vs Army
10/19 at Temple
10/26 vs UTSA
11/2 at UAB
11/14 vs East Carolina
11/23 at USF
11/30 vs FAU
Bold indicates AAC contests
Key Tulsa Football Returners
2023 All-AAC Third Team
RB Anthony Watkins
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Tulsa Football Returns QBs With Experience
The quarterback job will be contested by redshirt freshman Kirk Francis and redshirt sophomore Cardell Williams. Francis played the final four games of 2023, starting the last two. He led the Golden Hurricane to a season-ending 29-27 win at East Carolina, completing 23 of 37 passes for 297 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception while gaining 23 yards on three carries.
Williams played in nine games with four starts but missed the final three due to injury. He completed 79 of 132 passes (59.8%) for 1,149 yards, 10 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. Williams also rushed for 202 yards and five touchdowns.
Whomever is the quarterback will benefit from having strong skill position players. Anthony Watkins led Tulsa in rushing with 889 yards and four touchdowns. Kamdyn Benjamin was Tulsa’s leading receiver with 47 receptions for 727 yards and six touchdowns.
Tautai Lio Marks brings leadership and experience to the offensive line. Over the past two years, he has appeared in 24 games, making 23 starts. He has started 19 games at right guard and four at center and is the only returning starter up front.
The defense returns just five players who made five or more starts.
Safety Dayne Hodge is among the defensive leaders. He was Tulsa’s third-leading tackler last season with 57. Defensive lineman Owen Ostroski had four sacks in nine games.
2024 Tulsa Football Season Prediction
I predict Tulsa won’t contend for the AAC title and will win four games. Much of the success will depend on how the Golden Hurricane do in non-league games.
Tulsa opens with FCS Northwestern State and then visits an Arkansas State team which has a win total Over/Under of 6.5. The other potential winnable non-league game is at Louisiana Tech (which has a win total Over/Under of 4.5), while beating Oklahoma State at home would be a major upset. This schedule is better for Tulsa than last year when the Golden Hurricane suffered lopsided losses at Washington and at home against Oklahoma.
Tulsa gets a break in the schedule in that it doesn’t have to face leading AAC contenders Memphis and Tulane. Yet every AAC team on the schedule other than Temple is projected to win more games than Tulsa. Even if Tulsa beats Temple, the Golden Hurricane would need two potential upsets in AAC action to exceed the four-win prediction if they go 2-2 in the non-league schedule. That would not be impossible, but it also is no certainty.
