NEW ORLEANS — Jake Retzlaff ran for two short scores, setting a Tulane single-season record for touchdowns rushing by a quarterback, and the Green Wave clinched a tie for first place in the American Conference with a 27-0 victory over Charlotte on Saturday night.

Tulane clinched a berth in the championship game with the win, capping a 7-1 season in conference play. North Texas, also 7-1 in American action, advanced to the title game with a 52-25 victory over Temple on Friday. Because the two teams did not play during the regular season, Tulane earned the home-field advantage by virtue of being the highest-ranked American team (No. 24) in the latest College Football Playoff rankings. North Texas held the head-to-head tiebreaker over Navy, which also finished 7-1 in conference play, with a 31-17 Mean Green win during the regular season.

Tulane outgained Charlotte (1-11, 0-8) 274-72 in the first half and scored three touchdowns on 1-yard runs, the first by Javin Gordon and the next two by Retzlaff for a 21-0 lead.

Retzlaff passed for 291 yards but was intercepted twice, the first time in the Charlotte end zone by Kadin Schmitz on first-and-goal from the 2.

Patrick Durkin's fourth-quarter field goals of 36 and 52 yards capped the scoring.