Interviewing the Enemy: Q&A with WGNO’s Richie Mills and Tulane Hullabaloo’s Jason Bernstein

It feels great to say: college football is officially back! And head coach David Braun and Northwestern wasted no time to take on a major test against one of the top Group of Five teams in the country this season in Tulane, heading down to New Orleans at a hostile environment at Yulman Stadium. Ahead of the matchup against the Green Wave, we asked WGNO’s sports director Richie Mills and Tulane Hullabaloo sports editor Jason Bernstein a few questions about the team and the coming matchup.

Inside NU: Tulane was one the favorites to earn the fifth autobid to the College Football Playoff last year, but fell short. Does it have what it takes to make the CFP this year?

Richie Mills: I believe they do have what it takes to contend for the Group of Five College Football Playoff bid. It’s easy to think they won’t contend with just five returning starters from last year’s team and 60 new faces on the 2025 roster, but this team is loaded with talent and experience at every position. The transfer portal class that Tulane brought in this fall is much more talented than the class Jon Sumrall and company had before the 2024 season. They are the preseason favorite in the American, and if the Green Wave can finish 3-1 in non-conference play, run the table in conference play, and win the American, then I see no reason why they would not contend for a spot in the College Football Playoff.

Jason Bernstein: I believe they do. Without Ashton Jeanty in the way at Boise State, the only thing that could stop the Wave would be themselves.

INU:Northwestern is the first of three Power 5 opponents that the Green Wave are set to face this season, along with Duke and No. 21 Ole Miss. What are the expectations for this team, given the gauntlet of an out-of-conference schedule?

RM: Expectations are high considering that Tulane won nine games last year, and they were a handful of plays from upsetting a top 25 team at home with a new head coach, a new roster, and a first-year starting quarterback. The Green Wave coaching staff does a tremendous job of plugging the right pieces into their rotations and getting the most out of every player. The most noticeable advantage that Power 4 opponents could have over the Green Wave is size in the trenches, but Tulane’s talent, experience, and depth at the skill positions could make up for it. On top of that, you have to factor in home-field advantage for contests against Northwestern and Duke. Yulman Stadium is such a unique, intimate college football environment that could hold 30,000 ruckus Green Wave fans that will be out in full force as long as Tulane is playing meaningful football. Tulane fans will be out in full force for their regular-season opener to see what the 2025 Green Wave is about. They also have week three circled on their calendars for the return of Darian Mensah.

JB: I’d like to see them win two of the three. It’s a tough schedule, but if they can pull out a winning record versus these teams, it could help us snag the Group of Five CFP spot.

INU: The quarterback situation in New Orleans has been quite the hot topic following the departure of Darian Mensah. Between transfers, Brendan Sullivan, Jake Retzlaff, and Kadin Semonza, who do you think ultimately earns the starting job and why? 

RM: The quarterback competition is now a two-man race between former Northwestern and Iowa quarterback, Brendan Sullivan, and former BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff. Sullivan has been the most impressive quarterback in fall camp. Retzlaff’s ability to learn the playbook, the city, and his new teammates in such a short amount of time has also been outstanding. A minor ankle injury a couple of weeks ago could impact Sullivan’s availability for their opener. I think it’s Jake Retzlaff getting the Week One nod. The depth of the quarterback room will allow Sullivan to properly recover from his injury without having to rush back.

JB: I think that Jake Retzlaff will 100% be the starter. He’s the most proven quarterback on the roster as well as the most talented. He wouldn’t have come here with one year of eligibility left to be the backup, especially after having such a successful season at BYU last year.

INU: Heading into Week One, who do you think will be the X-factors on both sides of the ball for Tulane that will decide whether it will grab a win against the Wildcats? 

RM: The most obvious X-factor will be Tulane’s starting quarterback. The Tulane offense will go as far as the quarterbacks can take them. The beauty of that is the fact that both Jake Retzlaff and Brendan Sullivan have a plethora of experience. Sullivan has appeared in 23 games, both at Northwestern and Iowa, while Retzlaff played 17 in his two years at BYU. Retzlaff also led the Cougars to 11 wins and a bowl game victory over Colorado last year. The quarterbacks’ experiences make them the biggest X-factors in this game. Another X-factor will be Tulane linebacker Sam Howard, who is the quarterback of the defense. Howard’s high motor and nose for the football easily impact every game and make him a nightmare for opposing offenses. Tulane’s familiarity with Northwestern quarterback Preston Stone could also play a big part in Saturday’s game. The Tulane coaching staff conducted a thorough evaluation of Stone while recruiting him to Tulane when he was in the transfer portal. Stone actually visited Tulane before committing to Northwestern. So, the Green Wave coaching staff knows both the player and the person well. 

JB: Offensively (other than Retzlaff), Shazz Preston. An Alabama transfer WR from 2024, he had limited playing time due to injury last year. But, when he’s on the field, he’s special; a big wide receiver who moves like a smaller one. Defensively, Santana Hopper: DL [defensive line] transfer this offseason from Appalachian State, one of the most coveted transfer defensive linemen. Very versatile and affects both the running and passing attacks. 

INU: Finally, give us a prediction for the game and a score. Who wins this one, and why?

RM: Northwestern will be the perfect Week One test, but I think Tulane will win this ball game. The Green Wave have been a 4.5-6.5-point favorite over Northwestern, and I believe Tulane will win by at least a touchdown. I could see 27-20 in favor of Tulane. The Louisiana heat is not expected to be a big factor, but I think home-field advantage will be. I think Tulane’s 2025 roster is much more talented than the 2024 roster that won nine games with an American Conference championship appearance. It’s just a matter of seeing how they gel together in a regular-season setting. I think the experience of the quarterback room will help the team avoid any slow start and contend in a tight ball game. My confidence in my pick also comes from my confidence in the coaching staff.

JB: 28-20, Tulane. I believe they will control the line of scrimmage on both sides with Hopper on defense and guard Shadre Hurst on offense. Whoever wins at the line of scrimmage will win the game.