The SEC and Commissioner Greg Sankey have been added to the temporary restraining order granted by a Baton Rouge judge to make a group class of 2022 athletes, including those who signed pro contracts, eligible to return for a fifth season. At the request of their attorneys, Judge William Jorden amended the order to also temporarily block the SEC’s rule punishing schools for signing former pros. Governor Jeff Landry told Talk 107-3 in Baton Rouge that the associations have to abide by the court’s ruling.

Cut 3 (10) “…college football.”

Court documents also state that ex-LSU defensive end Jack Pyburn intends to commit to LSU if he is deemed eligible and cut by the Buccaneers. His last preseason game is tonight at 6:30.

The Saints’ preseason finale is tonight versus the Cowboys. The starters will sit, so it will be the last chance for players to make their case on why they should make the 53-man roster. The Saints have not yet announced who will start at quarterback.

Grambling State kicks off the season tomorrow against Clark Atlanta at 6 p.m.. Head coach Mickey Joseph named junior quarterback Jacobe Robinson as the starter in the spring but has not committed to who will take the first snap in the opener. He says he is comfortable playing more than one signal-caller.

Cut 18 (20) “…a strong competition.”

Southern opens the season against Alabama State at 2, and McNeese hosts Stephen F Austin at 6.

Louisiana Christian upset Northwestern State 42-37 last night. It was the first win over a D-1 program for the NAIA school, but head coach Ben McLaughlin says his team wasn’t thinking about that when they scored two quick touchdowns in the second half.

Cut 12 (09) “…lot of fun.”

Attorneys representing the 30-plus athletes seeking a fifth season of eligibility have now named the SEC and Commissioner Greg Sankey as defendants in the case along with the NCAA. They believe that the SEC’s rule prohibiting schools from rostering former pro football and basketball players violates the court’s ruling against the NCAA and will seek a preliminary injunction addressing both NCAA and conference rules in a hearing scheduled for Thursday.

Governor Jeff Landry weighed in on the situation while on Talk 107.3 in Baton Rouge.

Cut 5 (12) “…college sports.”

Also included in the amended documents obtained by The Baton Rouge Advocate is a statement that former LSU defensive end Jack Pyburn intends to return if the court allows and he is cut by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Pyburn signed with the Bucs as an undrafted free agent and made two sacks in his preseason debut.

The Saints close out the preseason tonight as they visit the Cowboys at 7. The starters will sit for the third time this preseason.

19^th-ranked Southeastern Louisiana was one of three ranked FCS teams to lose last night, falling 34-28 to Houston Christian. The Lions fumbled six times and turned the ball over three times, including one interception in quarterback Kyle Lowe’s first start. He also threw for 150 yards and two touchdowns and added another score and 54 yards on the ground.

Northwestern State lost to Louisiana Christian of the NAIA 42-37. The Wildcats became the 13^th NAIA team to ever beat an FCS program.

Nicholls cruised past Mississippi Valley State in a 44-10 win.

The only Louisiana Southland team yet to open the season is McNeese. The Cowboys kick off against defending conference champs Stephen F Austin at 6 tomorrow. Head coach Matt Viator says the week zero primetime home game is a great opportunity for the program.

Cut 19 (19) “…a special experience.”

Jalen Brewster, the top-rated recruit in the 2027 class, has shut down his recruitment and confirmed his commitment to Texas Tech. LSU has been targeting Brewster for a flip since he visited campus this summer, but the five-star defensive lineman plans to remain a Red Raider as he focuses on his senior season.

Adding to conference rules banning former pros, Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports reports College Football Playoff leaders are considering a policy that prevents any team with an ex-NFL player from competing in the postseason. LSU, of course, has received commitments from two former pros, tight end Dae’Quan Wright and defensive tackle Zxavian Harris.

ESPN announced an original series on the life and career of Hall of Fame and former LSU football coach Nick Saban. The six-episode series will feature hundreds of hours of never-before-seen footage and over 70 voices from Saban’s career, including LSU coach Lane Kiffin. Episode one premieres on ESPN October 8, with episode two, titled “Death Valley,” airing a week later.

College football is officially back with three FCS games in Louisiana tonight. Nicholls hosts Mississippi Valley State at 6:00, and Northwestern State welcomes Louisiana Christian to Natchitoches at 7:00.

Southeastern Louisiana hosts Houston Christian at 6:00. The Lions open the season as the 20th-ranked team in the FCS coaches poll, but head coach Frank Scelfo is reloading a roster that lost 26 seniors. He says he is relying on talented backups from last season to step up in bigger roles, like senior quarterback Kyle Lowe, who saw the field a lot as the number two QB last year.

Cut 17 (19) “…got that now.”

Saints head coach Kellen Moore announced the starters will not play in the team’s preseason finale tomorrow night. The New Orleans first-stringers will sit out all three preseason games.

SEC teams that sign a player who signed a contract with an NFL or NBA team face a half-season-long suspension for the head coach and a fine equal to 50-percent of the sport’s annual operating budget thanks to a new rule approved by university presidents. Tiger Rag editor Todd Horne expects more lawsuits against that rule and says the SEC’s authority may not hold up.

Cut 4 (11) “…state of Louisiana.”

The official vote to approve the policy was 15-0 with LSU abstaining.

The NFL will not allow any player who returns to college to sign with an NFL team this season. Those players will continue to be treated as free agents, and if they do return to college football, they will not be eligible for next year’s draft.

The league also announced that players who violate safety rules prohibiting hip drop tackles, horse collar tackles, launching, hits on a defenseless player or blindside blocks three times in a season will receive a one-game suspension.

With running back Ty Chandler now on season-ending IR and Devin Neal and Alvin Kamara sidelined, the Saints traded the 49ers for running back Zamir White. White says he was shocked by the trade, but he has had a good time with the team so far and is excited to compete for a roster spot.

Cut 19 (13) “…grateful for it.”

LSU transfer wide receiver Tre Wilson was a five-star recruit out of high school, but his career at Florida was derailed by injuries. He says all he can do is learn from the experience.

Cut 17 (16) “…go with it.”

The Pelicans agreed to a two-year, 16-million-dollar deal with guard Bennedict Mathurin. The former sixth-overall pick averaged over 17 points a game with the Pacers and Clippers last season.

SEC presidents unanimously approved a new rule to block any former pros from playing for an SEC school, including ex-NFL LSU commits Dae’Quan Wight and Zxavian Harris and former NBA signee RJ Luis. Tiger Rag executive editor Todd Horne expects that rule to also be taken to court.

Cut 3 (13) “…we’ve learned that.”

The LSU and Baton Rouge community gathered in the P-MAC last night to celebrate the life of legendary coach Skip Bertman. One of his top pitchers, Ben McDonald, recalled seeing Bertman in the hospital shortly before his passing.

Cut 8 (16) “…see Coach Bertman.”

LSU announced senior center Braelin Moore was honored with number 18 for the Tigers this season. The number annually goes to a player who best displays leadership on the team. As an offensive lineman, he will not switch from his number 61 jersey number but will wear an 18 patch on his jersey. Senior linebacker Whit Weeks and junior tight end Trey’Dez Green will both wear number seven.

LSU brought in nine new transfers in the receiver room, and players and coaches have not confirmed a top target to emerge. Florida Transfer Tre Wilson will likely be in the initial top four, but he says the competition is still wide open.

Cut 18 (11) “…watch for sure.”

Louisiana Tech announced updates to its future football schedule. The Bulldogs will open next season at Kansas, the 2028 campaign at Texas and 2029 at Alabama in three August kickoffs. Tech also scheduled a 2029 game against Mississippi State as well as home games against Mississippi Valley State in 2028 and Central Arkansas in 2029.

One of LSU’s top basketball signees, 2025 Big East Player of the Year RJ Luis, was granted a preliminary injunction to play for the Tigers this season. Luis declared for the 2025 NBA Draft and signed two professional contracts, but he will be allowed to return to college basketball. One of his attorneys, Elliot Abrams, told WBRZ in Baton Rouge that the NCAA’s rule against pro compensation that used to protect amateurism is arbitrary.

Cut 4 (11) “…to reason.”

The ruling was not related to the lawsuits that allow fifth-year players to return under the new five-for-five eligibility model and is bringing ex-NFL players Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavien Harris to LSU.

The Big Ten unanimously approved a new conference rule to not allow any former pro football players to play at any member school. The other Power Four conferences are considering a similar rule, including the SEC.

Saints head coach Kellen Moore confirmed that running back Ty Chandler will miss the season with a knee injury. New Orleans traded for 49ers running back Zamir White, who Moore says fits the offense well.

Cut 17 (11) “…it’ll be good.”

The Saints play their final preseason game versus the Cowboys on Friday.

LSU is less than two weeks out from its season opener versus Clemson, and despite both of the Tigers’ lead running backs returning, a new face will likely take the first carry. Wisconsin transfer Dilin Jones has practiced with the first-team. He says he came to LSU for competition and the whole running back room has improved this offseason.

Cut 21 (13) “…hit the hole.”

LSU basketball is signing another overseas pro, 7-foot-3 Israeli center Gilad Levy. The 24-year-old played in the Spanish pro league last season, averaging less than two points and two rebounds in about five and a half minutes a game in his 18 appearances.

Yesterday, a Baton Rouge judge granted another LSU signee RJ Luis a preliminary injunction allowing him to return to college basketball after signing two NBA and G League contracts. Luis’s attorney, Elliot Abrams, told WBRZ in Baton Rouge that with N-I-L and revenue sharing allowing schools to pay athletes directly, the NCAA is now a professional sports league.

Cut 3 (12) “…cries wolf.”

ESPN’s Pete Thamel reports that the Big Ten is passing a rule to ban former pros from playing for a Big Ten school, and the SEC is considering a similar rule.

A Celebration of Life for LSU legend Skip Bertman will be held in the P-MAC tonight at 7 with doors opening to the public at 6. Former LSU pitcher Doug Thompson says LSU fans are known for showing up for their teams, and he hopes that the PMAC is bursting at the seams with Tiger fans honoring Bertman.

Cut 8 (08) “…we’re so unique.”

The ceremony will also be broadcast on ESPN-plus and the SEC Network.

One of the former NFL players to commit to LSU is ex-Saints undrafted free agent Zxavien Harris. Head coach Kellen Moore’s brother, Kirby,  is the head coach at Washington State, and he says the slew of lawsuits giving players a fifth season of eligibility puts coaches in a bind.

Cut 18 (17) “…developed here shortly.”