With a new coaching staff in place, the University of Tulsa football team hopes to make a quick turnaround from what was a horrible 2024 season.

Gone is Kevin Wilson, who was let go after only two seasons as head coach. He was replaced by Tre Lamb, a 35-year-old coaching prodigy with a proven record of being able to transform programs and building winners.

Tulsa finished last season with a 3-9 record (1-7 in the AAC) and one of the worst defensive units in college football. Tulsa was ranked No. 131 out of 133 FBS teams in total defense last year.

In his one season at East Tennessee State (2024), Lamb turned the team around with a 7-5 record, after the team finished 3-8 the previous year.

“I’m excited about where we are at this time, I like our team,” Lamb said recently at a press conference. “The quarterbacks are playing well, which is always a big key to success in winning games. Defense is flying around, running to the ball. We forced three turnovers in our scrimmage. That always gives you a chance to win.”

Lamb said, the key to going into the season opener against Abilene Christian is to not have any injuries.

“I’d like to see us healthy, you know, I really, really, want to make sure we don’t have any soft tissue stuff,” Lamb said. “We want to be fresh going into that first game. Also, situational football is going to be big for us; third down stuff, second and ten, and stops in the red zone.”

Tulsa picked up some top high school recruits in the offseason, including some with local ties.

Javion Antai (OL, 6’4”, 285 lbs. Jenks H.S.) brings tremendous size to the offensive line. Hudson Ball (DE, 6’2”, 240 lbs.) comes from Shiloh Christian High School in Arkansas and will be counted on to be a defensive playmaker. Banks Bowen (QB, 6’3”, 208 lbs.) from Lawrence High School in Kansas, will be worked into the quarterback room to prepare for the future at that position.

Players coming to TU through the transfer portal are, Micah Tease (WR) brings great athleticism from Texas A&M, Sevion Morrison (RB) provides Big 12 experience after his stint at Kansas and Byron Turner Jr. (DE) comes from Florida State as a potential defensive game-changer.

Tulsa wide receiver Zion Steptoe has been named to the 2025 Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List, the Tyler Chamber of Commerce and SPORTyler announced recently. The Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award recognizes the top offensive player in Division I football who also exhibits the enduring characteristics that define Earl Campbell: integrity, performance, teamwork, sportsmanship, drive, community and tenacity; specifically, tenacity to persist and determination to overcome adversity and injury in pursuit of reaching goals. In addition, the nominee must meet one or more of the following criteria: Played football at and graduated from a Texas High School and/or currently playing at Texas D1 four-year college.

Steptoe made an immediate impact in his first season at Tulsa, continuing a family legacy, as both his father and stepfather played football for the Golden Hurricane. In 2024, he set career highs in receptions (15) and receiving yards (205), highlighted by a standout performance against Northwestern State where he recorded five catches for 88 yards, both personal bests.

Tulsa’s 12-game schedule is a mix of tough challenges and winnable games. For the first time since 2004, all six home games at H.A. Chapman Stadium are scheduled for Saturday kickoffs. There won’t be any Thursday or Friday night home dates, creating some consistency for Tulsa fans and players. With this schedule, it could very well be a five-win season for Tulsa. How the team performs in the first three contests will prove whether the rebuilding of the program is on schedule or ahead of expectations.

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