ESPN College Football

NEW ORLEANS -- Ryan Grant caught a 73-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Griffin with 1:46 remaining, erasing Rice's only lead of the game and giving Tulane a 54-49 victory on Saturday.

Griffin completed 21 of 34 for 314 yards and three touchdowns for the Green Wave (4-6, 2-4 Conference USA). Grant also caught a 40-yard touchdown from running back Orleans Darkwa, who carried 26 times for 113 yards and threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Cody Sparks on his only other attempt.

The Owls (2-8, 1-5), trailing 38-21 at halftime, replaced Nick Fanuzzi, who had thrown three interceptions, with Taylor Cook. Cook directed Rice to four touchdowns, including a 29-yard pass to Patrick Randolph with 2:02 remaining.

After Tulane regained the lead on Griffin's pass to Grant, Rice drove to a first down at the Green Wave 14. After two plays gained 3 yards, two incompletions turned the ball over on downs.