Tulsa has had four straight sub .500 seasons. Can the Golden Hurricane take that next step and end this streak?
Coming off a 4-8 season under Tre Lamb in his first season, the Golden Hurricane will look to improve with some veterans returning at key positions.
Tulsa Season Preview
The Golden Hurricane have a decent number of returning veterans, and now it will be a matter of mixing those players with the transfers.
Key Players To Replace
Running back Dominic Richardson made the most of his lone season at Tulsa, rushing for 1,065 yards and five touchdowns. First-team All-American Conference tight end Brody Foley has transferred to Louisville. Foley caught 37 passes for 528 yards and seven touchdowns.
Offensive tackle JaQuan Adams started 11 games in his lone season at Tulsa and is gone.
Linebacker Ray Coney was a first-team all-conference selection after recording a team-high 129 tackles. He has transferred to Texas A&M. Safety Lento Smith Jr. was a second-team all-conference choice after finishing second with 79 tackles and is also gone.
The Quarterback Situation
Redshirt sophomore Baylor Hayes returns after completing 59% of his passes for 2,158 yards, 12 touchdowns and six interceptions. He also rushed for 188 yards and three scores.
As for the other quarterbacks, graduate Dexter Williams II completed 53.6% of his passes for 787 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions last year for Kennesaw State. Williams also rushed for 153 yards and three touchdowns.
Key Returning Players
Offensive tackle Cam East appeared in 10 games with eight starts last season, his first at Tulsa after spending three years at Ole Miss.
After spending three seasons at Texas A&M, Hunter Erb appeared in 10 games with five starts on the offensive line.
In his first two seasons, offensive lineman Brody Duffel has appeared in 19 games for Tulsa with eight starts, including five last year.
Offensive lineman Ian Mayes appeared in seven games with four starts last year as a true freshman.
Sophomore receiver Josh Smith had 10 receptions for 204 yards and a touchdown in nine games.
Senior receiver Grayson Tempest had 22 receptions for 272 yards.
Cornerback Elijah Green was a first-team all-conference choice after recording 59 tackles and five interceptions.
Safety Zach Williams started all 12 games and made 73 tackles.
Cornerback JD Drew made 11 starts and recorded 24 tackles and two pass breakups.
Devin Robinson started 11 games at STAR, recording 51 tackles.
Defensive tackle Tai Newhouse started all 12 games and recorded 39 tackles.
Safety Ashton Williams recorded 35 tackles last season.
Linebacker William Alexander started 11 games and recorded 67 tackles last year.
Aidan Fedigan started all 12 games last season as the long snapper.
Key Newcomers
After starting 12 games at center for South Alabama last year, Malachi Preciado is expected to do the same at Tulsa. He had 25 starts over two seasons at South Alabama.
Receiver David Wells Jr. is a transfer from Oregon State, where he appeared in 22 games including 12 starts. Last season, he had 44 receptions for 466 yards and four touchdowns.
Running back Trequan Jones rushed for 792 yards and five touchdowns for Old Dominion and could help Tulsa’s offense. In four years at Auburn, Damari Alston rushed for 809 yards and six touchdowns. In two years at Division III North Central College, tight end Grant McAtee had 39 receptions for 421 yards and five touchdowns.
Defensive lineman Kyran Duhon appeared in 11 games last season for Oklahoma State, recording 16 tackles, and could contribute on defense. Free safety Rylan Leathers had 101 tackles and one interception last year at Idaho and hopes to continue being productive.
Linebacker Devin Hightower led UAB last year with 81 tackles and is now at Tulsa.
Defensive lineman Thomas Davis had 5.5 tackles for loss, including 3.5 sacks last season for Appalachian State before transferring to Tulsa.
Cornerback Caldra Williford had five pass breakups in 11 games last year for Baylor.
Jaylen George should contribute on the defensive line after transferring from Nebraska.
Safety Tyson Williams had 59 tackles and one interception last year at Abilene Christian.
Kicker Marlon Hauck spent his first four years at Mississippi State. Last year, he had 27 kickoffs with 19 touchbacks. Hauck is expected to add field goals and PATs to his duties.
Punter Max Tulen averaged 44.6 yards per punt last season at Bethune-Cookman.
Tulsa’s 2026 Schedule
- 9/5 vs. Oklahoma State
- 9/12 at Sam Houston
- 9/19 vs. East Texas A&M
- 9/26 at Arkansas
- 10/1 vs. North Texas
- 10/10 at Navy
- 10/17 at Rice
- 10/23 vs. Army
- 11/7 at Tulane
- 11/14 vs. FAU
- 11/21 vs. Charlotte
- 11/28 at UTSA
Bold indicates American contests
Tulsa’s American Conference Title Betting Odds
Tulsa’s college football betting odds to win the conference are +3000, via BetMGM. The Golden Hurricane are tied for ninth out of the 14-team American Conference when it comes to those betting odds.
Tulsa’s Betting Odds & Over/Under Win Total
- Tulsa’s win total Over/Under is 5.5
- The Under is at -125
- The Over is at -105
Tulsa Season Prediction
I predict Tulsa to go under the 5.5 win total and win five games.
There are so many positives, including Hayes returning at quarterback, but the schedule is very difficult. If Tulsa splits its non-league games (potentially losing to Oklahoma State and Arkansas) then the Golden Hurricane would have to win three American games just to get to five wins. Last season, Tulsa was just 1-7 in the American.
Those who disagree can point out that Tulsa beat Oklahoma State last year, but this season with a new coaching staff and a major overhaul in the transfer portal, the Cowboys are expected to be better.
The American schedule remains difficult, so winning two more games than last year in the conference appears realistic. Of course, with things expected to be so tough in the American, there is no question that Tulsa could go above five wins and become bowl-eligible, but I think we’ll see the Golden Hurricane falling just short of that goal.
