NFL-dot-com’s Ian Rapoport is reporting the Saints will pick up defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins fifth-year option. Rankins had a career-high eight sacks and 12 tackles for a loss last season, but tore his Achilles tendon in the playoff win over Philadelphia. He’s expected to start the season on the physcially unable to perform list, but the team must believe he’ll make a full recovery from that injury.

The NCAA has approved changes to both targeting and overtimes rules in college football. When it comes to targeting, the instant replay judge must now confirm that targeting occurred on a defenseless player and the contact was directed at the head or neck area for a targeting penalty to be confirmed. If the instant replay judge can’t, the call on the field will not stand. And when it comes to O-T, if a game reaches the fifth overtime, both teams will alternate two-point conversion attempts, instead of starting a drive from the opponents 25 yard line.

Drew Bianco’s two out, three-run homer in the second provided the spark the LSU baseball team needed last night to beat Lamar five to three. Fellow freshman Landon Marceaux also pitched three shutout innings to pick up the win.

In Ruston, for the second time this season, junior second baseman Hunter Wells hit a walk off homer. Wells blast lifted the Bulldogs to a five-four win over Little Rock. La Tech Tech is at McNeese tonight.

Southern Miss scored four runs in the ninth inning last night to beat the Ragin Cajuns seven to six. Jacob Schultz, who was spectacular against LSU last week, gave up four runs on three hits and suffered his second loss of the season.

ULM rallied to beat Southern five to four. Logan Wurm hit an RBI single in the eighth inning to give the Warhawks their first lead and then scored what turned out to be the game winning run. ULM begins a series at Arkansas State on Friday.

Also last night, Southeastern slammed Tulane 10 to 3 and Arkansas thumped Northwestern State 19 to 2. Those two teams play again today in Fayetteville