# 2021 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team

The 2021 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team represented the University of Tulsa as a member of the American Athletic Conference during the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by seventh-year head coach Philip Montgomery, the Golden Hurricane compiled an overall record of 7–6 with a mark of 5–3 in conference play, placing in a three-way tie for third in the American. Tulsa was invited to the Myrtle Beach Bowl, where they beat Old Dominion. The team played home games at Skelly Field at H. A. Chapman Stadium in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

## Preseason
### American Athletic Conference preseason media poll

The American Athletic Conference preseason media poll was released at the virtual media day held August 4, 2021. Cincinnati, who finished the 2020 season ranked No. 8 nationally, was tabbed as the preseason favorite in the 2021 preseason media poll.
Media poll :
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
| 1 | Cincinnati | 262 (22) |
| 2 | UCF | 241 (2) |
| 3 | SMU | 188 |
| 4 | Houston | 181 |
| 5 | Memphis | 168 |
| 6 | Tulsa | 153 |
| 7 | Tulane | 132 |
| т-8 | East Carolina | 85 |
| т-8 | Navy | 85 |
| 10 | Temple | 46 |
| 11 | South Florida | 43 |

## Schedule

Tulsa opened the 2021 season at home against UC Davis on Thursday, September 2, before a pair of road games at Oklahoma State, September 11 in Stillwater and Ohio State, September 18 in Columbus.
| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 2 | 6:30 p.m. | No. 23 (FCS) UC Davis* | Skelly Field at H. A. Chapman StadiumTulsa, OK | ESPN+ | L 17–19 | 15,085 |
| September 11 | 11:00 a.m. | at Oklahoma State* | Boone Pickens StadiumStillwater, OK (rivalry) | FS1 | L 23–28 | 52,127 |
| September 18 | 2:30 p.m. | at No. 9 Ohio State* | Ohio StadiumColumbus, OH | FS1 | L 20–41 | 76,540 |
| September 25 | 4:00 p.m. | Arkansas State* | Skelly Field at H. A. Chapman StadiumTulsa, OK | ESPN+ | W 41–34 | 14,881 |
| October 1 | 6:30 p.m. | Houston | Skelly Field at H. A. Chapman StadiumTulsa, OK (rivalry) | ESPN | L 10–45 | 15,890 |
| October 9 | 8:00 p.m. | Memphis | Skelly Field at H. A. Chapman StadiumTulsa, OK | ESPN2 | W 35–29 | 17,593 |
| October 16 | 11:00 a.m. | at South Florida | Raymond James StadiumTampa, FL | ESPNU | W 32–31 | 21,767 |
| October 29 | 6:30 p.m. | Navy | Skelly Field at H. A. Chapman StadiumTulsa, OK | ESPN2 | L 17–20 | 16,279 |
| November 6 | 2:30 p.m. | at No. 6 Cincinnati | Nippert StadiumCincinnati, OH (College GameDay) | ESPN2 | L 20–28 | 37,978 |
| November 13 | 3:00 p.m. | at Tulane | Yulman StadiumNew Orleans, LA | ESPNU | W 20–13 $^{OT}$ | 22,784 |
| November 20 | 3:00 p.m. | Temple | Skelly Field at H. A. Chapman StadiumTulsa, OK | ESPN+ | W 44–10 | 16,731 |
| November 27 | 3:00 p.m. | at SMU | Gerald J. Ford StadiumUniversity Park, TX | ESPN2 | W 34–31 | 17,158 |
| December 20 | 2:30 p.m. | vs. Old Dominion* | Brooks StadiumConway, SC (Myrtle Beach Bowl) | ESPN | W 30–17 | 6,557 |
| *Non-conference gameRankings from AP Poll and CFP Rankings after November 2 released prior to gameAll times are in Central time |||||||

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked RV = Received votes :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Final |
| AP | — | — | — | — | — | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Coaches | RV | — | — | — | — | | | | | | | | | | | |
| CFP | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | | | | | | | Not released |

## After the season
### 2022 NFL draft

The following Golden Hurricane players were selected in the 2022 NFL draft following the season.
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | NFL club |
| 1 | 24 | Tyler Smith | Offensive line | Dallas Cowboys |
| 7 | 230 | Chris Paul | Offensive line | Washington Commanders |