In what might have been the final game of the Sean Payton era, the Saints defeated the Falcons 20-17 as Kai Forbath drilled a 30-yard field goal with no time left for the winning points. Payton says it was a gutsy win for his banged-up team…

cut 16 (16) “entire career”

The win gives the Saints a 7-9 record for the 2015 season and they end the year on a two-game winning streak.

LSU announces that Wisconsin defensive coordinator Dave Aranda will take the reigns of the Tiger defense next season. Aranda replaces Kevin Steele, who left to take the same position at Auburn. Under Aranda, the Badgers led the FBS in scoring defense, allowing less than 14 points per game. In fact, in five major defensive categories the Wisconsin defense ranks in the top seven nationally. In a twist of fate, LSU opens their 2016 football season against Wisconsin.

LSU picked up a couple of big commitments from Drake Davis and Michael Divinity at the Under Armour All-America Game Saturday. Divinity, a four star linebacker from John Ehret, graduated mid year and will be on campus this spring. Davis, who played wide receiver at IMG Academy in Florida, is a Baton Rouge native who also plans to play basketball.

In college basketball this weekend, Ben Simmons scored 36 as LSU won their SEC opener against Vanderbilt 90-82. The Tigers will host the tenth ranked Kentucky Wildcats tomorrow night.

Louisiana Tech crushed Southern Miss 87-57, UL-Lafayette pounded Appalachian State 79-59, Northwestern State fell to Houston Baptist 99-73, Lamar beat Nicholls State 79-67, it was Stephen F. Austin over McNeese 86-57, and UConn defeated Tulane 75-67.