Tulsa Golden Hurricane is 1-0 on the season, 1-0 against the spread, and holds a power rating of -7.3. Tulsa Golden Hurricane enters the season with a power rating of -7.3, placing them below average relative to the FBS midpoint. The Tulsa Golden Hurricane head to Sam Houston next in Week 2. In 2025, Tulsa Golden Hurricane went 4-8 overall, 6-6 against the spread, and 5-7 on totals.
In Week 1 of 2026 the Tulsa Golden Hurricane Power Rating of -7.3 is 7.3 points below the FBS average according to Blue Chip Analytics. Tulsa Golden Hurricane have logged 0 miles of travel so far, out of a season total of 6,066 miles, ranking 87th heaviest in the FBS.
Baylor Hayes QB, Cam East OL, Trequan Jones RB
Elijah Green CB, Zach Williams S, Chris Thompson Jr. LB
Marlon Hauck K, Max Tulen P
| After | Record | ATS | O/U |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | 1-0 | 1-0 | 0-1 |
| Week 2 | 1-1 | 1-1 | 0-2 |
| Week 3 | 1-2 | 1-2 | 1-2 |
| Week 4 | 2-2 | 2-2 | 1-3 |
| Week 5 | 2-3 | 2-3 | 1-4 |
| Week 6 | 2-4 | 2-4 | 1-5 |
| Week 8 | 2-5 | 3-4 | 2-5 |
| Week 9 | 2-6 | 4-4 | 3-5 |
| Week 11 | 2-7 | 4-5 | 4-5 |
| Week 12 | 3-7 | 5-5 | 4-6 |
| Week 13 | 4-7 | 6-5 | 5-6 |
| Week 14 | 4-8 | 6-6 | 5-7 |
A season record is a record, not a forecast. Blue Chip Analytics' own research finds that beating the closing line repeats at close to zero from one season to the next - see most underrated and overrated teams. Read the table as what happened, not as what is likely to happen next.
Opened -11.8 in the preseason and finished -7.3 after week 2, a move of +4.5 points. High -7.3 (week 2), low -11.8 (the preseason).
PreW2
SP+ is an independent opponent-adjusted efficiency rating, one of the systems blended into the Blue Chip Analytics power rating rather than a Blue Chip Analytics number itself. Defensive SP+ measures points allowed, so a lower figure is a better defence - the rank beside it already accounts for that.
Source spread is how far apart the independent rating systems are on this team, not a margin of error on our own number. A wide spread means the models disagree, which is itself worth knowing.
The measured home field advantage of -0.3 is regressed to +1.8 before it is applied, a difference of 2.1 points. A single venue's raw result carries a lot of noise, so the applied figure is pulled toward the league pattern. See how much is home field advantage really worth.
| Opponent | Met | Record | ATS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma State | 6 | 1-5 | 3-3 |
| Arkansas | 1 | 0-1 | 0-1 |
| North Texas | 2 | 0-2 | 0-2 |
| Navy | 8 | 1-7 | 1-7 |
| Rice | 1 | 0-1 | 0-1 |
| Army | 2 | 1-1 | 1-1 |
| Tulane | 9 | 3-6 | 4-5 |
| Florida Atlantic | 3 | 0-3 | 0-2-1 |
| Charlotte | 1 | 0-1 | 0-1 |
| UTSA | 1 | 1-0 | 1-0 |
No meeting on record since 2016: Sam Houston, East Texas A&M.
Week 06,066 mi total
| Week | Opponent | Distance | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 0 | - | Bye | |
| Week 1 | Oklahoma State | Home | 0 mi |
| Week 2 | Sam Houston | 375 mi | 751 mi |
| Week 3 | East Texas A&M | Home | 751 mi |
| Week 4 | Arkansas | 99 mi | 948 mi |
| Week 5 | North Texas | Home | 948 mi |
| Week 6 | Navy | 1,083 mi | 3,114 mi |
| Week 7 | Rice | 444 mi | 4,002 mi |
| Week 8 | Army | Home | 4,002 mi |
| Week 9 | - | Bye | |
| Week 10 | Tulane | 545 mi | 5,092 mi |
| Week 11 | Florida Atlantic | Home | 5,092 mi |
| Week 12 | Charlotte | Home | 5,092 mi |
| Week 13 | UTSA | 487 mi | 6,066 mi |
| Week 14 | - | Bye | |
| Week 15 | - | Bye | |
| Week 16 | - | Bye | |
| Postseason | - | Bye | |
Tulsa opened the season with a 24-10 home win over Oklahoma State, a result that flipped the script on a preseason narrative that had the Golden Hurricane as heavy underdogs. The victory not only covered the 13.5-point spread but also marked the program's second straight win over the Cowboys, following the 19-12 road upset in 2025. The defense, which had been criticized for allowing big plays late last year, held Oklahoma State to just 10 points in 102-degree heat, while the offense did enough behind sophomore quarterback Baylor Hayes. The win gives Tre Lamb's team early credibility and a 1-0 record as they head into conference play.
Baylor Hayes entered the season as the focal point of Tulsa's offense, and the opener reinforced why coaches trust him. Hayes, who made nine starts as a freshman and threw for 2,158 yards with 12 touchdowns, is a dual-threat who rushed for 376 yards before sacks in 2025. His mobility was central to the upset over Oklahoma State last year, and it remains the key to Tulsa's attack. With an offensive line anchored by returning right tackle Cam East and six other linemen with combined experience from 32 games, Hayes has a stable platform to work from. The challenge ahead is replacing the top three rushers and receivers from last season, but Hayes's ability to extend plays and create chunk gains gives Tulsa a chance in every game.
Tulsa's defense showed marked improvement in 2025, but a late-season pattern of surrendering big plays was a concern. The unit returns six starters from the season finale, including cornerback Elijah Green, who led the American Athletic Conference with five interceptions, and safety Zach Williams, who posted 73 tackles and two forced fumbles. The biggest loss is linebacker Ray Coney, who transferred to Texas A&M after leading the conference with 129 tackles. Chris Thompson Jr., a 2025 team captain who missed all of last season with a broken ankle, is back to help fill that void. The opener against Oklahoma State was encouraging, but the true test will come against conference offenses that can stretch the field vertically.
Tulsa underwent significant roster turnover in the offseason, particularly at running back, receiver, and specialist positions. The backfield gained a boost with transfer Trequan Jones from Old Dominion, who was graded by Pro Football Focus as the third-best transfer running back in the country. Jones is expected to carry a heavy load after the departure of the team's top three rushers. At kicker, Marlon Hauck transferred from Mississippi State, where he had limited game experience, and won the starting job in spring auditions. Punter Max Tulen, an Australian transfer from Bethune-Cookman, averaged 44.6 yards per punt in 2025 and takes over for Angus Davies. These newcomers will need to gel quickly as Tulsa navigates a demanding schedule.
The season-opening win over Oklahoma State provides a significant confidence boost for a program that went 4-8 in Lamb's first year. The victory also validates the buzz generated by the program's innovative 'Portal House' recruiting strategy, which drew attention during the January transfer window. Tulsa now travels to Sam Houston in Week 2 as a 14-point favorite, a game that offers a chance to build a winning streak before conference play intensifies. The American Athletic Conference is undergoing coaching upheaval, and Lamb believes his team can capitalize. With a mobile quarterback, an experienced offensive line, and a defense that has already shown it can step up, Tulsa has the pieces to be a surprise contender if the new skill players and specialists deliver consistently.
Tulsa Golden Hurricane is 1-0 against the spread in the 2026 season, covering 100% of games.
Tulsa Golden Hurricane holds a Blue Chip Analytics power rating of -7.3, representing their expected point margin against an average FBS team on a neutral field.
Tulsa Golden Hurricane's home field advantage rating is 1.8 points, the venue adjustment Blue Chip Analytics applies for games at their home stadium.
Tulsa Golden Hurricane's consensus regular-season win total for 2026 is 5.5 wins, priced at -115 over and -115 under. This is the betting market's expectation, not a Blue Chip Analytics projection.
Tulsa Golden Hurricane travels 6,066 miles in the 2026 season, ranking 87th heaviest in the FBS.
Cumulative travel distance counts both the outbound and return journey for every away game. For example, if a team travels 374 miles to play an away game, Blue Chip Analytics counts 748 miles (374 miles there, 374 miles back) toward the cumulative total. Home games and bye weeks add zero miles. The per-week Distance column shows the one-way distance only, as the return trip happens after the game is played.
Tulsa Golden Hurricane: 1-0 overall, 1-0 ATS, power rating -7.3 (2026 records).
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