Saints Coach Sean Payton expects Quarterback Drew Brees will start on Sunday night against the Dallas Cowboys. Payton says each day Brees has made progress after missing last weekend’s game because of a bruised rotator cuff. Not only is Brees expected to start, but safety Jairus Byrd, linebacker Dannell Ellerbe, cornerback Keenan Lewis and defensive end Cam Jordan are all listed as probable. Guard Jahri Evans is out.

LSU has won 50 straight non-conference regular season games and they are expected to make it 51 in a row when they host Eastern Michigan on Saturday. The Tigers are big favorites to beat the Eagles, who are one of the worst teams in college football when it comes to stopping the run. Leonard Fournette is seeking his third straight 200-yard rushing performance.

UL Lafayette is at Louisiana Tech. The Bulldogs have won six straight at home, while Cajuns running back Elijah McGuire needs 42 rushing yards to move past 25-hundred for his career. Kick-off at Joe Aillet stadium is at six PM.

In the Southland Conference….Nicholls State will host McNeese State. The Colonels are winless on the season, while the Cowboys are undefeated. Northwestern State looks for its first win of the season as the Demons are at Incarnate Word. Southeastern Louisiana won on Thursday as the Lions edged Lamar 30-27. S-L-U’s Kody Sutton scored the winning touchdown with 1:19 left to go.

ULM has its first Sun Belt game of the season Saturday night as the Warhawks host Georgia Southern for homecoming. The Warhawks are without their leading receiver Rashon Ceaser because of a leg injury.

Tulane has a Saturday morning kickoff in Yulman Stadium. The Green Wave will host winless Central Florida. A win for Tulane and they’ll even its record at 2-and-2 with some tough conference games coming up.

Grambling State is at Jackson State on Saturday night at 6 PM. The Tigers are 2-and-0 in the SWAC.

And the Pelicans begin their preseason schedule on Saturday night against the Pacers in Indiana.