6:45 LRN Sportscast

The LSU Tigers have arrived in Houston ahead of Saturday night’s Texas Bowl matchup against the 21st ranked Houston Cougars.

After this game, LSU turns its attention to the transfer portal as players can officially jump in on January 2nd.

Two Ole Miss Rebels LSU Coach Lane Kiffin is sure to target are quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and running back Kewan Lacy. Caroline Fenton with Yahoo Sports and Sirius-XM Radio says with Harlem Berry and Caden Durham already on the roster and a nearly two-million-dollar NIL offer in Oxford, Kiffin may not be able to persuade Lacy despite their connection.

Cut 18 (20)  “…room already.”

Rookie quarterback Tyler Shough has led the Saints to three straight victories. Earlier this week, Shough provided some insight on how the relationship is growing between himself and first-year head coach Kellen Moore…

Cut 19 (42) “…good at”

New Orleans is at Tennessee this Sunday for a noon kick-off.

4:45 LRN Sportscast

The Pelicans season-high five-game winning streak ended in Cleveland last night. The Cavaliers drained 20 3-pointers to beat New Orleans 141 to 199 at Rocket Arena. Pelicans interim coach James Borrego says they didn’t do much defensively…

Cut 26 (12) “…grow from this”

The 8-and-23 Pelicans are back in action on Friday when they play the first of back-to-back home games against the Phoenix Suns.

 

Three NFL games tomorrow. At 3:30 the Vikings host Detroit. Former LSU Star Justin Jefferson needs just 83 yards to eclipse one-thousand yards receiving. It will be the sixth time he’s done that in his six seasons in the NFL. Jefferson needs 27 yards to surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer Randy Moss for the most receiving yards by a player in their first six seasons.

 

Yahoo Sports’ Caroline Fenton reviewed the start of the Lane Kiffin era at LSU on Tiger Rag Radio this week. She says it was always a home run hire, but she’s still been impressed by his enthusiasm to embrace the program and the all-star coaching staff he’s put together.

Cut 16 (16) “…could be better.”

David Frankin has been named the Class One-A Coach of the Year by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association. Franklin led Haynesville to its 18th state championship as the Golden Tornado beat Mangham in the Division four non-select state title game.

Haynesville’s Isaiah Washington, who has signed to play at LSU as a defensive back, was named the outstanding defensive player of the year. Ascension Catholic running back Trevin Simon is the Class One-A offensive player of the year after rushing for a state record 3,915 yards and scoring 60 touchdowns for the Bulldogs.

1:30 LRN Newscast

With the jackpot skyrocketing, Powerball fever is gripping Louisiana. Andre Champagne reports.

Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

It will be a warm and dry Christmas Day. LRN meteorologist Bill Jacquemin says the high temperature tomorrow will come close to breaking records…

Cut 28 (08) “…to low 80s”

 

Gas prices are giving drivers a Christmas gift this year as they have not been this low in five years….

Cut 6 (13) “….and a quarter”

That’s Triple-a fuel analyst Don Redman who says despite an increase in gasoline demand over the holidays, supply is strong.

There’s a new policy that streamlines the process for data centers and other large projects to access the energy they need, and the public service commissioner who spearheaded it is clearing up some misconceptions about it. Commissioner J.P. Coussan says it’s not a rubber stamp for utility companies to charge what they want to charge in order to expedite these big projects.

Cut 15 (10) “…of this project.”

12:30 LRN Newscast

The Public Service Commissioner who spearheaded a new policy for large projects like data centers to access energy is defending the policy that removes the requirement for utilities powering the projects to prove that its generation is the cheapest and most reliable. The Alliance for Affordable Energy says the new policy will cause residential customers’ utility bills to skyrocket, but Commissioner J.P. Coussan says…

Cut 13 (09)  “…on this deal.”

At this time of year Flu activity is rampant across the country and this year is no exception, especially in Louisiana. Dr. David Janese (juh-NEESE) with Ochsner LSU Health says the number of people testing positive for the flu is staggering.

Cut 11 (05) “…only trending upward.”

The CDC says almost 50-thousand people have been hospitalized with the flu and there have been about two-thousand deaths associated.

 

As you drive to your Christmas destination, you can do so without giving too much money to the gasoline companies. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Once again families can track Santa Claus’ trip around the globe by visiting the North American Aerospace Defense Command’s Santa tracker website. According to the director of NORAD, Colonel Matt Tromans, Santa usually arrives in Louisiana between 9 PM and midnight but he waits until the children are asleep before delivering presents to a home.

6:45 LRN Sportscast

The Pelicans’ five-game winning streak ended last night in Cleveland as the Cavaliers outscored New Orleans 141-118. The Pels were playing on the second night of a back-to-back. New Orleans allowed the Cavs to hit 20 three-pointers. Zion Williamson had 26 points in a losing effort.

LSU has lost another starting offensive lineman to the transfer portal. Coen Echols says he plans to transfer after starting seven games at left guard. Freshman Carrius Curne also intends to transfer.

The Saints are one of three teams without a Pro Bowl selection this year. New Orleans is without a representative for the second straight season despite pass catchers Chris Olave and Juwan Johnson each ranking in the top six in yards at their positions. Former Tigers Ja’Marr Chase and Derek Stingley Jr. earned their fifth and second Pro Bowl nods, respectively. Chase leads the AFC in yards and receptions, while Stingley has four interceptions.

 

The LSU Tigers practice this morning and then they head to Houston to play the Houston Cougars in the Texas Bowl on Saturday night.

Next year Tiger fans are really hoping LSU will be in the College Football Playoffs. One of Lane Kiffin’s claims to fame is his effective use of the transfer portal to build his roster in Oxford. Caroline Fenton of Yahoo Sports and Sirius/XM Radio says finding players in the portal and bringing in former players from Ole Miss can be a recipe for instant success.

Cut 17 (19)  “…why not?”

If there were hopes LSU would be able to get South Carolina edge rusher Dylan Stewart, those hopes were dashed yesterday when Stewart announced he’s returning to the Gamecocks for his junior season.

6:45 LRN Sportscast

LSU football coach Lane Kiffin has announced 11 new additions to the coaching staff. Eight of the new hires followed Kiffin from Ole Miss to Baton Rouge, including several names we already knew, like offensive coordinator Charlie Weis. Also following Kiffin to LSU is his brother, Chris Kiffin, who will be the co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. Joe Houston, who was previously at Florida is the special teams coordinator.

The Saints have their first three-game winning streak since 2022. Head coach Kellen Moore says it’s good to see his team getting a taste of success.

Cut 13 (06)  “…habits right now.”

The Saints have a chance at ending the season on a five-game winning streak as they finish up with road games at Tennessee and Atlanta.

________________________________________________

The Pelicans won their fifth in a row last night as New Orleans defeated Dallas 119 to 113. Zion Williamson had 24 points and nine rebounds off the bench.

Nearly a bad loss by the LSU men’s basketball team last night as they trailed by ten points in the second half to Prairie View A-and-M, but eventually got it going and defeated the Panthers 104 to 90. Marquel Sutton had a double-double, 21 points and 10 rebounds. The Tigers made a school record 43 free throws, breaking a record that stood since 1979.

The Georgia Bulldogs are back in the Sugar Bowl after losing to Notre Dame in last year’s Sugar Bowl. Georgia Coach Kirby Smart doesn’t believe last year’s game will have any impact, as the Bulldogs have an entirely different team.

Cut 19 (18) “…Ole Miss previously.”

Georgia will play Ole Miss in the Sugar Bowl at 7 p.m. on New Year’s Day. The Bulldogs are a six and a half point favorite.

6:45 LRN Sportscast

The Saints won their third straight on Sunday as they finished the home portion of their schedule with their most complete game of the season by beating the hapless New York Jets 29-6. Quarterback Tyler Shough continues to make the case as the team’s franchise quarterback as he threw for 308 yards and a touchdown. The TD pass came late in the third quarter, as Shough hit a wide open Chris Olave on a 23-yard touchdown pass….

Cut 19 (08) “….the ball”

Olave had a career-high 148 receiving yards and had two touchdowns. The second TD pass was thrown by Taysom Hill in the fourth quarter.

Hill also has 36 receiving yards, and is the only player with over one-thousand yards passing, rushing and receiving in the NFL Super Bowl era.

New Orleans will look for its fourth win in a row this Sunday at Tennessee.

____________________________________________________________________

Tulane’s magical season came to an end Saturday with a 41-10 loss to the Ole Miss Rebels in the first round of the college football playoffs. The defeat also ends Jon Sumrall’s two year run as the head coach of the Green Wave. He now moves on to Gainesville to become the head coach of the Florida Gators. Sumrall had this message for his team in the locker room after the game…

Cut 17 (13) “….no it’s not”

Ole Miss’s win over Tulane means the Sugar Bowl matchup is set as the Rebels will face Georgia in a College Football Playoff quarterfinal matchup on New Year’s Day night.

Ole Miss running backs coach Kevin Smith was at the LSU football operations building in a sign that he will be the Tigers new running backs coach.

LSU women’s basketball had another blowout victory, beating Texas-Arlington 110-45. Grace Knox had a career-high 25 points.

6:45 LRN Sportscast

Tulane makes its first appearance in the College Football Playoff Saturday, where it’ll face Ole Miss for the second time this season. Head coach Jon Sumrall credited his team’s success to its closeness and says he has full belief in its ability to pull off an upset.

Cut 16 (12) “…we fight.”

Ole Miss is a 17.5 point favorite tomorrow.

The college football playoff gets underway tonight with Oklahoma hosting Alabama. In late October, the Sooners defeated the Crimson Tide 23-21.

The Pelicans had their best win of the season last night for their third straight victory as New Orleans defeated Houston 133 to 128 in overtime. The Pels trailed by 25 points in the first half. Saddiq Bey had a season high 29 points and Trey Murphy added 27 points.

 

The Saints are seeking their third straight win on Sunday when they host the Jets and they are getting good play from rookie quarterback Tyler Shough. Tight end Juwan Johnson knew Shough prior to playing for the Saints, as both started their careers at Oregon. Johnson says he’s seeing Shough play with lots of confidence lately.

Cut 19 (17) “…what it is.”

Running back Devin Neal has been ruled out with a hamstring injury, and wide receiver Devaughn Vele has been ruled out with a shoulder injury.

In college hoops, the Ragin Cajuns scored just 17 points in the first half in their Sun Belt opener and lost to Southern Miss 62 to 54.

Tonight, LSU hosts Southeastern Louisiana. The Tigers are 9-1, while the Lions are 4-7.

The son of former LSU head coach Les Miles has been hired by Marshall Faulk and Southern’s new tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator.

6:45 LRN Sportscast

LSU freshman offensive lineman Carius Curne, a five-star recruit out of Arkansas, plans to enter the transfer portal. Curne started seven games this past season, with starts at both left and right tackle.

Tulane had just 282 yards of offense in its first matchup against Ole Miss in the regular season. The two teams meet again Saturday in a College Football playoff game. Green wave quarterback Jake Retzlaff (Rhett-Zloff) says offensive coordinator Joe Craddock told the offense it needed to improve on several aspects in order to give itself a shot at winning…

Cut 19 (16) “…we’ve been ever”

The Ragin Cajuns turned it over three times and lost to Delaware 20-13 last night in the 68 Ventures Bowl.

 

ULM men’s basketball opened up Sun Belt play last night by losing a tough game to South Alabama, falling to the Jaguars in double overtime 96-82. The Warhawks had an 18-point lead at halftime. The Jaguars scored the final 14 points of regulation to force the first overtime.

Louisiana Tech shot 32-percent from the field and lost to Tulane 61-53.

LSU men’s basketball team hosts Southeastern Louisiana on Friday night. Coach Matt McMahon says because of the season ending injury to Jalen Reed, Marquel Sutton has been moved to his natural position and played well in last Saturday’s win over S-M-U…..

Cut 17 (17) “,,,and 12 rebounds”

Tip off against the Lions tomorrow night is at 7 PM

5:30 LRN Newscast

Former New Iberia police officer Micah Legnon is currently charged with threat by interstate commerce for allegedly planning an attack on federal ICE agents in New Orleans. Loyola University law professor Dane Ciolino says more serious charges will be filed, and even longer before an indictment can be handed down against the 28-year-old…

Cut 10 (09) “…can go forward.”

The former U-S Marine was arrested Friday on his way to New Orleans and authorities say they found guns, a gas canister and body armour in his vehicle.

A federal judge has ruled the state’s social media age verification law approved in 2023 is unconstitutional, because it violates the First Amendment. NetChoice argued before the court that age verification requirements amount to First Amendment violations because they force users to give up too much personal information just to gain access. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murril says she plans to appeal the ruling…

Cut 6 (09) “…minors.”

 

A mineral processing company is investing in a new facility in St. James Parish. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

A 14-year-old honors student was killed when she was struck by a vehicle in Shreveport on Monday. The victim has been identified as Cali Agent and she was an eighth grader at Magnolia School of Excellence. Police say the driver is cooperating with the investigation.