The Tulsa Golden Hurricane are the athletic teams that represent the University of Tulsa. These teams are referred to as the Tulsa Golden Hurricane. Before adopting the name Golden Hurricane in 1922, the University of Tulsa (TU) had many unofficial team nicknames including Kendallites, Presbyterians, Tulsans, Tigers, Orange and Black, and Yellow Jackets. The name "Golden Tornadoes" was chosen by TU football coach H.M. Archer (1922–24) based on new gold and black uniforms and a remark made during practice of the team "roaring through opponents". However, it was quickly discovered that the same name had been chosen in 1917 by Georgia Tech. Archer then substituted the term "hurricane" for "tornado" and a team vote prior to leaving for the game against Texas A&M confirmed the official nickname as "Golden Hurricane".
The Tulsa Golden Hurricane football program represents the University of Tulsa in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) level. Tulsa has competed in the American Athletic Conference since the 2014 season and was previously a member of Conference USA (C-USA). The team is led by head coach Kevin Wilson. Tulsa plays its home games at Skelly Field at H. A. Chapman Stadium in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The University of Tulsa has the smallest undergraduate enrollment of all schools that participate at the FBS level.
The 2011 Tulsa Golden Hurricane Wave football team represented the University of Tulsa in the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Golden Hurricane were led by first-year head coach Bill Blankenship and played their home games at Skelly Field at H. A. Chapman Stadium. They were a member of the West Division of Conference USA (C-USA). They finished the season 8–5, 7–1 in C-USA play to finish in second place in the West Division. They were invited to the Armed Forces Bowl, where they were defeated by BYU, 21–24.
The 2012 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team represented the University of Tulsa in the 2012 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They were led by second-year head coach Bill Blankenship and played their home games at Skelly Field at H. A. Chapman Stadium. They were a member of the West Division of Conference USA (C-US). They finished the season 11–3, 7–1 C-USA to be West Division champions. They defeated UCF in the C-USA Championship Game to become C-USA champions. They were invited to the Liberty Bowl, where they defeated Iowa State to avenge a season-opening loss.
The 2003 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team represented the University of Tulsa as a member of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) during the 2003 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by first-year head coach Steve Kragthorpe, the Golden Hurricane compiled an overall record of 8–5 with a mark of 6–2 in conference play, tying for second place in the WAC. Tulsa was invited to the Humanitarian Bowl, where the Golden Hurricane lost to Georgia Tech. The team played home games at Skelly Stadium in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
The 2001 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team represented the University of Tulsa as a member of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) during the 2001 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by second-year head coach Keith Burns, the Golden Hurricane compiled an overall record of 1–10 with a mark of 0–8 in conference play, placing last out of ten teams in the WAC. Tulsa played home games at Skelly Stadium in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
The 2013 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team represented the University of Tulsa in the 2013 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They were led by third-year head coach Bill Blankenship and played their home games at Skelly Field at H. A. Chapman Stadium. This was Tulsa's final season as a member of Conference USA (C-USA). Tulsa moved to the American Athletic Conference the following year. Tulsa had an overall record of 3–9 on the season with a 2–6 mark in conference to finish in sixth place in the C-USA West Division.
The Freedom Bowl featured the San Diego State Aztecs and the Tulsa Golden Hurricane as their postseason bowl game to end the 1991 NCAA Division I-A football season for both teams.
The UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros is a collegiate athletic program that represents the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV). The Vaqueros inherited the NCAA Division I status of the Texas–Pan American Broncs and were full members of the Western Athletic Conference through the 2023–24 school year In March 2024, it was reported that the Vaqueros would leave the WAC for the Southland Conference, beginning in the 2024-25 academic year.
The 2016 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team represented the University of Tulsa in the 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Golden Hurricane played their home games at Skelly Field at H. A. Chapman Stadium in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and competed in the West Division of American Athletic Conference (AAC). They were led by second-year head coach Philip Montgomery. They finished the season 10–3, 6–2 in America Athletic play to finish in second place in the West Division. They were invited to the Miami Beach Bowl where they defeated Central Michigan.
The 1964 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team represented the University of Tulsa during the 1964 NCAA University Division football season. In their fourth year under head coach Glenn Dobbs, the Golden Hurricane compiled a 9–2 record, 3–1 against Missouri Valley Conference opponents, led the country in scoring with an average of 36.2 points per game, and defeated Ole Miss, 14–7 in the 1964 Bluebonnet Bowl. Under Glenn Dobbs, Tulsa led the nation in passing for five straight years from 1962 to 1966.
The 1996 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team represented the University of Tulsa during the 1996 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their ninth year under head coach David Rader, the Golden Hurricane compiled a 4–7 record. In the team's first season as members of the Western Athletic Conference the team finished seventh in the Mountain Divsision with a 2–6 conference record. The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Troy DeGar with 1,336 passing yards, Reggie Williams with 759 rushing yards, and Wes Caswell with 817 receiving yards.
The 1999 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team represented the University of Tulsa during the 1999 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their 12th year under head coach David Rader, the Golden Hurricane compiled a 2–9 record, 1–6 against conference opponents, and finished in last place in the Western Athletic Conference. The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Josh Blankenship with 1,416 passing yards, John Mosley with 873 rushing yards, and Damon Savage with 752 receiving yards.
The 1971 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team represented the University of Tulsa as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) during the 1971 NCAA University Division football season. In their second year under head coach Claude "Hoot" Gibson, the Golden Hurricane compiled an overall record of 4–7 with a mark of 3–2 in conference play, placing in a three-way tie for second in the MVC.
Derrick Gragg is an American college athletics administrator. He was the athletic director at Northwestern University, a position he has held from 2021 to 2024, before being moved to the position of Vice President for Athletic Strategy. He previously spent eight years, 2013 to 2021, as the athletic director at the University of Tulsa, seven years, 2006 to 2013, as the athletic director at Eastern Michigan University, six years, 2000 to 2006, as senior associate athletic director at the University of Arkansas. Gragg played college football at Vanderbilt University, lettering as a wide receiver for the Commodores for four seasons, 1988 to 1991.
The 2017 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team represented the University of Tulsa in the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Golden Hurricane played their home games at the Skelly Field at H. A. Chapman Stadium in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and competed in the West Division of the American Athletic Conference. They were led by third-year head coach Philip Montgomery. They finished the season 2–10, 1–7 in AAC play to finish in last place in the West Division.
The 2018 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team represented the University of Tulsa in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Golden Hurricane played their home games at the Skelly Field at H. A. Chapman Stadium in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and competed in the West Division of the American Athletic Conference. They were led by fourth-year head coach Philip Montgomery. They finished the season 3–9, 2–6 in American Athletic play to finish in a tie for fifth place in the West Division.
The 2019 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team represented the University of Tulsa in the 2019 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Golden Hurricane played their home games at Skelly Field at H. A. Chapman Stadium in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and competed in the West Division of the American Athletic Conference. They were led by fifth-year head coach Philip Montgomery. They finished the season 4–8, 2–6 in AAC play to finish in a tie for fifth-place in the West Division.
The 2020 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team represented the University of Tulsa in the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Golden Hurricane played their home games at Skelly Field at H. A. Chapman Stadium in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and competed in the American Athletic Conference. They were led by sixth-year head coach Philip Montgomery.
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.