This is why we need replay, for moments like this in Tulane’s stunning 46-45 victory over USC in the Cotton Bowl.
The Green Wave from the American rallied from 15 points down, scoring the game winning touchdown when Tulane tight end Alex Bauman caught a six-year touchdown pass from Michael Pratt with nine seconds to play in a dramatic finish against
Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams and Troy’s high-powered Pac-12 offense.
Bauman’s contested catch, with USC linebacker Eric Gentry draped over him, was initially ruled an incompletion, but a replay review showed the ball never touched the ground as the players rolled over in the end zone.
It was the right call.
The Green Wave scored 16 points in the final 4:30, the game winning touchdown coming after they got the ball back following a safety.
The victory did wonders for the American, which is facing the loss of UCF, Houston and Cincinnati to the Big 12, but produced a champion that went 12-2, defeated Big 12 champion Kansas State and got one of the biggest brand name programs in the country.
No one saw this miracle comeback coming. Over the past five seasons, teams was 1-1692 when trailing by 15 or more points with five minutes of less remaining. The lone win came in 2020 with Texas staging a comeback against Texas Tech.
“I might have had a heart attack,” Tulane coach Willie Fritz admitted after the game ended.
Hang in there, coach.
Williams was 37 for 52 for 462 yards and a Cotton Bowl record five touchdowns, a month after he suffered a hamstring injury in the Trojans’ loss to Utah in the Pac-12 title game in Vegas that eliminated USC for CFP consideration. But the Trojans’ defense has been suspect all year.
Tyler Spears ran for 205 yards, and his career high fourth touchdown started the final scoring surge for the Wave. After Spears’ 4-yard touchdown with 4:07 left, the Wave opted to kick deep instead of trying for an onside kick. Mario Williams signaled for a fair catch but fumbled the ball out of bounds at the 1-yard line. Two plays later, defensive tackle Patrick Johnson hit Austin Jones in the end zone and smothered him for a safety.
Pratt completed only 8 of 17 passes for 243 yards but had two 24 yard completions on the final drive, one that gave Tulane a first down at the six with 18 seconds left to set up the winning play.
