Despite finishing undefeated , the Green Wave were not considered for a BCS game , let alone a berth in the 1999 Fiesta Bowl — that year 's national title game — because it was felt they had not played a difficult schedule . They did not play a single ranked team all season , and the only Automatic Qualifying conference member on their schedule was a Rutgers team that finished tied for sixth in the Big East . They defeated Brigham Young University in the Liberty Bowl . The Green Wave finished the season ranked seventh in the nation in both the AP Poll and Coaches ' Poll — in both cases , its highest rankings in school history since the 1939 Tulane football season when they were ranked No. 5 in the AP Poll
Big East
Big East Conference (1979–2013)
1998 Tulane Green Wave football team