If it’s three-loss Tulane, the AAC probably doesn’t pass the Big 12’s champion. But if one-loss Army blows out Tulane, the Black Knights would presumably re-join the College Football Playoff rankings and *could* end up ranked higher than the Big 12 champ.

Thanksgiving football brought some early clarity to the playoff race entering the final week of the regular season, and proved a damning moment for would-be Group of Five hopeful Tulane. All the Green Wave had to do was take out AAC challenger Memphis and put on a good show in the conference championship game to get the College Football Playoff selection committee’s attention.

Greg Desrosiers Jr. caught two scoring passes and ran for a touchdown, and Memphis defeated No. 18 Tulane 34-24 to knock the Green Wave out of CFP contention.