Tulane’s Game-Winning Play Over USC Makes Cotton Bowl Erupt

Tulane's first major bowl win in 88 years ended in dramatic fashion.

Winning a major bowl game for the first time in 88 years tends to trigger an emotional release.

Appropriately, Tulane's shocking 46-45 upset of USC in the Cotton Bowl was met with a cathartic reaction from the significant contingent of Green Wave fans who made the nearly 500-mile trip from New Orleans to Dallas.

Tulane essentially clinched victory with nine seconds left, as quarterback Michael Pratt found tight end Alex Bauman for a touchdown that was initially ruled incomplete before being overturned on review. Kicker Valentino Ambrosio booted the go-ahead extra point to secure the Green Wave's first major bowl win since the 1935 Sugar Bowl, in which Tulane defeated Temple 20–14.

Video: Tulane fans react to play being ruled a touchdown…..#RollWave pic.twitter.com/VQGbf8j9al

— Rod Walker (@RodWalkerNola) January 2, 2023

Meanwhile, Trojans fans reacted with equivalent agony. USC, which reeled off an 11–1 regular season, lost its second straight game following a 47–24 dud against Utah in the Pac-12 championship game.

The Trojans led the Green Wave 45–30 after kicker Denis Lynch hit a 43-yard field goal with 4:30 to play. Tulane scored 16 consecutive points, however, to capture its 12th win a year removed from a 2–10 season.