Grambling State @ Tulane preview

Jonathan Banks won't need to do much to improve the Tulane passing game when it begins its season Saturday against visiting Grambling State. The Green Wave were at or near the bottom of the FBS in every passing category during the first season under coach Willie Fritz and as a result, suffered through their third straight losing season.

Banks, a dual-threat quarterback who will be with his fourth team since leaving high school after attending two different junior colleges in addition to spending a redshirt season at Kansas State, will likely spend a lot of time handing off to senior running back Dontrell Hilliard, an All-American Athletic Conference preseason second-team honoree. Hilliard rushed for 759 yards and nine touchdowns last season and should inherit a larger workload following the departure of the team's second- and third-leading rushers from last season. With senior quarterback Devante Kincade returning from last season's 12-1 squad, the Tigers are primed for another strong season under coach Broderick Fobbs. Kincade amassed 2,999 passing yards while throwing for 31 touchdowns against only four interceptions as the Tigers captured the Southwestern Athletic Conference title and the Historically Black Colleges and Universities championship.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN3.com

ABOUT GRAMBLING STATE (2016: 12-1): With a slew of unproven wide receivers, senior running back Martez Carter will be critical to the Tiger's success on offense. Carter, who amassed 906 yards and 11 touchdowns on 118 carries, got better as the season went along to close with three straight 100-yard games and nine straight games with at least one score. Carter also happens to be the top returning receiver after producing 28 catches, 351 yards and three touchdowns, which means the likes of wide receivers Devohn Lindsey, Devante Davis and freshman Raylon Richardson will need to step up if the team is to match last season's 39 points per game.

ABOUT TULANE (2016: 4-8): When Banks drops back to throw, he will have a pair of experienced receivers to target in junior Terren Encalade and sophomore Darnell Mooney. The duo combined for 60 receptions, 767 yards and eight touchdowns last season with most of that production coming from quarterback Glen Cuiellette, who has been relegated to fourth string. The Green Wave offense will also feature a pair of experienced tight ends in Charles Jones II and Kendall Ardoin, who between them have 50 games and 29 starts.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The 4-8 mark in his first season with the Green Wave was only the second losing season for Fritz in 20 years as a head coach.

2. Grambling State's only loss last season came at the hands of Arizona, which outscored the Tigers 28-0 in the second half to post a 31-21 victory.

3. Carter also returns kicks for the Tigers and has amassed 1,829 return yards and four return touchdowns in his career.

PREDICTION: Grambling State 31, Tulane 27