Tulsa Football Preview 2026: Finally the Time for a Breakthrough

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Tulsa Football Preview 2026: Finally the Time for a Breakthrough

Pete Fiutak · College Football News

Thu, May 28, 2026 ·

8 min read

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Tulsa's time has to be now.

Second-year head coach Tre Lamb and the program not only weathered the transfer portal storm, it thrived in it.

Now Tulsa has a strong haul of new players to work around a good base of veterans.

That's not nothing - it's not easy to build up the talent at Tulsa, and Lamb did it.

- American First Look Rankings

Oct 16, 2025; Greenville, North Carolina, USA; Tulsa Golden Hurricane quarterback Baylor Hayes (10) throws the ball against the East Carolina Pirates during the first half at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.

© James Guillory-Imagn Images

After four losing seasons in a row, here's the chance to make some noise with most of the top teams from last year in transition with new head coaches.

Now it's up to Lamb's team to come together right away and be the team with the right style to make everyone else in the conference worry.

Tulsa Quick Hits

Head Coach:Tre Lamb (2nd year, 4-8; 7th season overall, 31-33)
Best Case / Worst Case:Winning season and bowl game/Fifth straight losing season
Key Player: Baylor Hayes , QB Soph.
2025 Record:4-8
Biggest Question:Can the Golden Hurricane be more efficient and explosive on both sides of the ball?

Tulsa Key 2025 Stats

Total Offense: Tulsa 4,775, Opponents 4,760
Fumbles: Tulsa 22 (lost 10), Opponents 14 (lost 4)
121st in the nation in tackles for loss allowed

Offense

The offense moves well, and it's supposed to keep defenses on their toes - even if it's not going at warp speed.

There were times when it all kicked in, and there were a few games when the staff did its job and played it well in the flow.

But it needs to be more consistent, be more explosive, and with fewer mistakes.

What's Working

The offensive line should be in decent shape.It did a great job for the ground game, but the pass protection could've been better. The tackles are set with JaQuan Adams and Cam East, and the interior beefed up with center Malachi Preciado coming in from South Alabama.

The staff was able to pick and choose a few key parts to make up for the transfer portal losses.Running backs Damari Alston (Auburn), Seth Davis ( Mississippi State ), and Trequan Jones (Old Dominion) were wonderful gets for the program, and David Wells Jr. ( Oregon State ) helped stop the bleeding at receiver.

The quarterback situation is strong. Kirk Francis took off for Texas Tech, but Baylor Hayes was the main man last year. Dexter Williams II comes in from Kennesaw State to add more veteran leadership and another good option.

What Needs Work

The passing game needs to be better and more efficient.The yards were there at times, and there was good offensive balance, but there weren't enough downfield plays, and interceptions were too much of a problem.

The line needs to keep defenses out of the backfield.Again, for the most part, last year's line wasn't too bad, and this year's front five will be solid, but it got steamrolled too often, allowing too many tackles for loss.

The turnovers.The offense gave it up multiple times in seven games and lost six of them. Interceptions were a bigger problem than fumbles, but most of the mistakes came from pushing too hard.

Player to Watch

Damari Alston, RB Sr.
Sometimes, a player just needs more of a chance. Alston didn't really fit into the new style at Auburn, and the backfield became too crowded.

The 5-10, 215-pound veteran averaged five yards per carry with 809 yards and six scores in his four years. He'll be an all-around factor for Tulsa.

Defense

Defensive coordinator Josh Reardon has a lot to work with.

The Tulsa defense was undermanned compared to the high-powered American Conference offenses, but when it was able to hold its own and be just okay, the team stayed in games.

There might not be a ton of returning starters, but there's experience to be a bit more consistent.

What's Working

There's a nice group of ends and edge rushers in place.Some of the top pass rushers are gone, but this was an area of focus for the transfer portal, getting Thomas Davis (App State) and Kyran Duhon ( Oklahoma State ).

The linebacking corps lostleading tackler Ray Coney to Texas A&M and Josh Anglin to Kennesaw State, but adding Devin Hightower from UAB was a big deal, and veteran Will Alexander is a good veteran to work around.

Just don't get gouged against the decent passers.Tulsa did just fine against teams that struggled through the air, but it has to do a better job of keeping the deep balls to a minimum.

The Golden Hurricane went 4-1 when keeping teams to under 7.4 yards per pass.

What Needs Work

The run defense.At least against the FBS teams, it only worked when the other side was having too much fun throwing.

To be fair, there were a few good performances - like in the win over Oregon State and the loss to New Mexico State - and allowing over four yards per carry isn't totally horrible, but it gave up 4.5 or more five times.

More takeaways.The defense forced multiple takeaways just two times - and lost both games. There were just six takeaways spread out over ten games, and four fumble recoveries overall. Tulsa forced 16 or more in each of the previous five years.

Speaking of takeaways ...

Someone else has to make big plays when the ball is in the air.Five of the seven interceptions were by one guy, and there were a mere 30 broken-up passes overall. But ...

Player to Watch

Elijah Green, CB Jr.There weren't enough plays made overall by the corners, but Green did his part. He's a tall, lanky corner who came up with five interceptions and seven broken up passes, to go along with 59 stops. He'll be the corner to avoid.

Keys to the Season

Get the offense moving.

The defense has enough experience to be better, but now it's time for the offense to be a differentiating factor.

More often than not in the recent era of Tulsa football, the offense puts up big stats in an attempt to keep up the pace.

This year's attack has a great group of skill parts and a veteran line - this is when the offense has to go from promising to production.

Player Who Needs To Shine

Baylor Hayes, QB Soph.He's not all that big, but he's a tough baller who did an okay job when thrown into the mix. Whether he's the one to make the fun happen, or if it's Dexter Williams II, the quarterback play has to go up a notch.

Biggest Concern

Be better on third downs
Tulsa is okay at doing most of the little things right.

It should once again be great at keeping penalties to a bare minimum, and the takeaways will come with a more experienced D, but the team has to win third downs on both sides of the ball.

Biggest Game

North Texas , October 1
With three of the next four conference games on the road - Tulsa will likely be a big underdog against Army, and at Navy and at Tulane - starting out the league run at home against North Texas is a must-win.

The Golden Hurricane lost three straight in the series, with the last win in 2011.

Transfer Portal

Overall, there aren't a lot of complaints.

Tulsa was able to load up on a slew of players who fit, it didn't lose too many star talents, and in a strength-in-numbers way, the portal season has been a net positive.

Best Signing

Kyran Duhon, EDGE (Oklahoma State)A wonderful signing from a few miles west, Duhon was a part of the Oklahoma State rotation last season after a big seven-sack, 43-tackle debut at UTSA. He should quickly add more flash to the pass rush.

Biggest Loss

Brody Foley , TE ( Louisville )
Foley left Indiana just when the fun really happened - he didn't catch a pass in his two years in Bloomington.

He made 37 grabs for 528 yards and seven scores - and ran for two touchdowns - in his one year at Tulsa, and he turned into one of the top tight ends in the portal. Louisville got him.

Other Names to Know

Thomas Davis, EDGE (App State)
David Wells Jr., WR (Oregon State)
Malachi Preciado, C (South Alabama)

CFN Season Prediction

In a conference full of X-factor teams, Tulsa is hard to predict as any team in the American.

Here's the big problem - where are the sure-thing wins?

It helps not to have to deal with Memphis, USF, and East Carolina - and this year, not facing Temple will matter - but several other American teams improved, too.

CFN Prediction: 5-7

Florida Atlantic will be stronger. Rice won't be a breeze on the road, and to have any hope of this being a bowl season, getting by North Texas and Army at home will be a must.

There really is more talent, the coaching staff appears to be settled in, and this is the time for Tulsa to start winning more games.

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