The Saints and Buccaneers will meet for a third time this season on Sunday when the two NFC South rivals meet in the divisional round of the NFL playoffs.  New Orleans won the two regular-season matchups, including a 38-3 trouncing of Tampa Bay on its home field on November 8.  Coach Sean Payton says that last game will not factor into what will happen this Sunday.

Cut 16 (14) “entirely different”

Zac Alley has been named the new Defensive Coordinator and LB coach for ULM. At the age of 27, Alley becomes the youngest defensive coordinator in the FBS.

Multiple sources are reporting that Mississippi State defensive coordinator Zach Arnett flew to Baton Rouge this morning to interview with Ed Orgeron for the defensive coordinator position on LSU’s staff.  Arnett just finished his first season with the Bulldogs.

The New Orleans Pelicans were scheduled to play the Dallas Mavericks yesterday, but the game was canceled just hours before tipoff after several Mavericks players tested positive for Coronavirus.  The Pelicans will now turn their attention to the Clippers as the team is scheduled to travel to Los Angeles for the matchup tomorrow night.  The Pelicans currently sit at 4-5 on the season while the Clippers hold the second spot in the western conference with a 7-4 record.

Amite native and Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith was named Offensive MVP of the national championship as the Crimson Tide beat Ohio State 52-24.  Smith caught 12 passes for 215 yards and 3 touchdowns, all in the first half.  His 12 receptions set a title game mark and his 3 scores tied a championship record.

The final AP top 25 rankings have been released and the Ragin Cajuns finished at number 15.  The Cajuns ended the season with a 10-1 record and a share of the Sun Belt championship.  Their last game was a 31-24 victory over UTSA in the First Responder’s Bowl.