The last time Tulane played a big-time program other than LSU was Alabama in 2008, when Tulane outgained the Crimson Tide but lost 20-6 in a game that was close almost all the way. Alabama went 11-0 in the regular season.
The last time Tulane played a team from the Big Ten was Rutgers in 2014 in the Scarlet Knights' first year in the league. But if you go past that one, the previous time Tulane played a team that was in the Big Ten at the time the game was Michigan in 1972. The Wave was ranked 18th and Michigan was ranked 8th, and the Wolverines won 41-7 in Ann Arbor. Incredibly, that was the last regular season game Tulane played where both teams were ranked. The only other game since then was the Bluebonnet Bowl in 1973, which Houston won 47-7 when the Cougars were 14th and the Wave was 17th.
Tulane also played Rutgers in 2010 and 2012 when it was still a member of the Big East and Maryland in 1995 when the Terrapins were a member of the ACC.
The last time Tulane played a team from the Big Ten was Rutgers in 2014 in the Scarlet Knights' first year in the league. But if you go past that one, the previous time Tulane played a team that was in the Big Ten at the time the game was Michigan in 1972. The Wave was ranked 18th and Michigan was ranked 8th, and the Wolverines won 41-7 in Ann Arbor. Incredibly, that was the last regular season game Tulane played where both teams were ranked. The only other game since then was the Bluebonnet Bowl in 1973, which Houston won 47-7 when the Cougars were 14th and the Wave was 17th.
Tulane also played Rutgers in 2010 and 2012 when it was still a member of the Big East and Maryland in 1995 when the Terrapins were a member of the ACC.