The first college football playoff rankings are out and many LSU fans are surprised to see the Tigers are not number one. That honor goes to Ohio State, which has dominated its eight opponents. LSU is ranked second and will visit third-ranked Alabama this Saturday.

The Bayou Bengals will not have linebacker Michael Divinity. The team’s sack leader has left the program for personal reasons. Andre Anthony, who has nine tackles on the season, is expected to see a bigger role. Linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson says Anthony is ready for the challenge…
cut 19 (24) “..handle it”
At yesterday’s practice, Damone Clark practiced with the pass-rushing unit. Safety Grant Delpit was not at practice as he continues to nurse an ankle injury. He’s expected to play Saturday.

The Saints will hit the practice field today to get ready for Sunday’s game against the one and seven Atlanta Falcons. New Orleans is seven and one at the halfway point and they’ll play the Dirty Birds and Carolina twice during the second half of the season. The combined record of the Saints opponents in the second half is 31-and-34.

The college basketball season tipped off last night and Nicholls nearly pulled off a big upset. The Colonels rallied from a 20-point second-half deficit and nearly beat Illinois in overtime 78-70. Transfer Dexter McClanahan had an impressive debut in a Nicholls uniform with 25 points.

Elsewhere, the Ragin Cajuns thumped Loyola of New Orleans 94-41, U-L Lafayette’s Bob Marlin won his 400th game as a Division One head coach, ULM routed Louisiana College 95-57 as JD Williams scored 25 points and Northwestern State crushed Centenary 84-51.

Tonight, Lousiana Tech tips off the season at Texas A-and-M Corpus Christi.