In a powerful season opener, Tulane triumphed over Northwestern with a solid 23-3 victory, while donning helmets stripped of any decals to commemorate the 20th anniversary of their 2005 squad, which played in the devastating wake of Hurricane Katrina. However, tensions flared as head coach Jon Sumrall expressed disappointment over Northwestern's refusal to allow his team to honor the legacy further.

Following the game, an impassioned Sumrall stated, "I'm not trying to take a shot, but we requested to wear white jerseys because that’s what our 2005 team wore. It got denied by the other team. That’s their prerogative, but when you show disrespect to the city of New Orleans, that’s what’s going to happen to you. You’re going to run into a team like this. We might have used that for a little bit of motivation to represent the city. So don’t disrespect New Orleans ever."

The original 2005 Tulane squad donned helmets without decals alongside white jerseys and pants for their first game post-Katrina, a symbolic event held at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, Louisiana, as New Orleans began its long recovery from the devastating storm that displaced countless residents and inflicted billions in damages.

In an ironic twist, the Wildcats themselves wore an all-white uniform for the game. According to ESPN, Tulane's request for the uniform change was submitted on August 17, marking a period typically too late for such adjustments.

Fueled by the desire to honor their city, the Green Wave, led by BYU transfer quarterback Jake Retzlaff, showcased their determination. Retzlaff completed 18 out of 31 passes for 152 yards, including a touchdown, while also rushing for another score, accounting for 69 of his impressive 113 rushing yards.

Defensively, Tulane was relentless, restricting Northwestern to a mere 237 yards of total offense and intercepting quarterback Preston Stone four times, leaving no doubt about their resilience and dedication to their roots.