East Carolina Secures Bowl Eligibility With Win

East Carolina University (ECU) secured bowl eligibility with a hard-fought 38-31 victory over Tulsa, marking their third consecutive win under interim head coach Blake Harrell. The Pirates, improving to 6-4 overall and 4-2 in the American Athletic Conference, faced significant adversity, including four turnovers and 12 penalties, but managed to rally in the fourth quarter. Running back Rahjai Harris was pivotal, scoring two late touchdowns and finishing with 114 rushing yards. Defensively, Kingston McKinstry's critical tackle at the one-yard line sealed the win for ECU as they thwarted Tulsa's final drive. This victory follows a coaching change and reflects ECU's resilience after a midseason slump. With this win, ECU not only clinches bowl eligibility but also maintains momentum heading into the postseason.