Former LSU star Angel Reese helped the Atlanta Dream force game seven of the WNBA Finals with an 80-69 win over the Valkyries yesterday. The WNBA Defensive Player of the Year had 15 points, 14 rebounds and six assists in the win, but she says the job is not finished.

Cut 20 (09) “…headspace right now.”

The winner-take-all game tips off at 7:00 tomorrow night.

The Saints won’t be playing on Sunday as they search for answers to the same problems that have plagued the team all season during the bye week. Die-hard fan Scott Fazio outlined how the organization has failed to correct repeated failures.

Cut 10 (13) “…nothing changes.”

NFC South rivals Atlanta and Tampa Bay will face off at noon. Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka is out with a foot injury.

Louisiana Tech could take sole control of the Sun Belt West with a win at South Alabama tomorrow. The Bulldogs are undefeated in conference play, and the Jaguars sit right behind them in the standings with one loss. The winner will have the inside track to the conference championship. Kickoff is at 2.

On the other end of the West division, ULM hosts Southern Miss at 2:30. Both teams are looking to build momentum after big upset wins last week.

In the Southland, McNeese hosts Nicholls for homecoming at 2:00 tomorrow afternoon. Both teams are 3-and-5 and 2-and-3 in conference play. Cowboys coach Matt Viator says his offense is talented but has problems to fix before they face a tough Colonels defense.

Cut 19 (12) “…win this game.”

Southeastern Louisiana visits East Texas A-and-M at 3.

In the SWAC, Southern and Florida A-and-M face off at 2, and Grambling heads to Texas Southern at 7:30.

Louisiana Tech visits South Alabama in a matchup between the top two teams in the Sun Belt West. The Jaguars have the league’s best rushing attack, but the Bulldogs rank first in total defense and rushing defense in conference play. Tech defensive lineman Justice Williams says they want to dominate offenses.

Cut 16 (16) “…that’s our goal.”

LA Tech running back Dylone Brooks is listed as doubtful to play, and defensive lineman Judd Rouyea is probable to make his first appearance since the LSU game. Kickoff is at 2 p.m.

ULM hosts Southern Miss at 2:30 as both teams look to turn disappointing seasons around with back-to-back wins. Warhawks defensive linemen Zyan Tremont and Tyrell Brown are both questionable to return after missing last week’s win with injuries.

Tulane visits Charlotte tonight at 6. The Green Wave are looking ot rebound from a big loss to UTSA against the 1-and-6 49ers.

If you have been frustrated by the Saints’ 2-and-5 start this season, one longtime fan wants you to know you aren’t alone. Scott Fazio sent a letter to the organization detailing the repeated failures of the front office and coaching staff and requesting real evaluation and change.

Cut 21 (19) “…fired by now.”

After the Panthers lost to the Packers 27-19 last night, New Orleans is just a game out from first in the division. Atlanta is also tied for the lead at 3-and-4 and will play the 2-and-5 Buccaneers on Sunday.

The Pelicans got their first win of the season last night, beating the Kings 132-120. Point guard Jeremiah Fears led the Pels with 22 points, 13 assists, and 8 rebounds.

Former NBA signee RJ Luis received a preliminary injunction allowing him to play for LSU and blocking the SEC from punishing the school for rostering him, but coach Will Wade says he plans to follow SEC protocols that prohibit teams from rostering players who signed pro deals.

Cut 22 (06) “…has not changed.”

Wade landed a commitment from five-star point guard Reese Alston. The ninth-ranked prospect in the 2027 class chose LSU over Kentucky, Louisville, Tennessee and Wichita State.

LSU is using the open week to get healthy ahead of its matchup with tenth-ranked Alabama next week, but coach Lane Kiffin says he is upset the bye comes right as the team is finding its rhythm. Kiffin says one of his biggest joys in coaching is seeing his players improve.

Cut 18 (15)  “…the players’ development.”

Former LSU star Angel Reese had 15 points, 14 rebounds and six assists in the dream’s 80-69 win over the Valkyries to force game seven of the WNBA Finals. She says the team wanted to maximize its opportunity in a must-win game.

Cut 21 (13) “… way we did.”

Game 7 will tip off at 7 p.m. on Saturday.

One team will get its first win of the season as the Pelicans host the Kings tonight. New Orleans dropped to 0-and-4 after a 104-91 loss to the Nuggets last night. First-year Pels head coach Jamahl Mosley…

Cut 20 (15) “…the lessons.”

Tip-off in the Smoothie King Center is at 7 p.m.

During the bye week, LSU is preparing for its biggest game yet. The Tigers host tenth-ranked Alabama next Saturday, and coach Lane Kiffin says the Crimson Tide are more talented than any team they have faced this season.

Cut 16 (19) “…teams we played.”

After LSU tried to dismiss the SEC’s federal lawsuit against the school for recruiting pro players and basketball coach Will Wade reportedly gave up on signing former NBA signee RJ Luis, Luis and his attorneys are not giving up. A Baton Rouge judge enjoined LSU and the conference in an injunction that makes the former St. John’s star eligible and blocks the SEC’s punishments against LSU for rostering him. A preliminary injunction hearing will be held on November 13.

ULM secured that elusive first victory this season with a 21-14 comeback win over Troy. Coach Bryant Vincent says they have played a lot of close games this season.

Cut 19 (20) “…bring that back.”

The Warhawks return home to host Southern Miss this weekend. The Golden Eagles are also coming off their first FBS win this season with a 35-31 win against UL Lafayette.

The LSU women’s basketball team holds its final exhibition game tonight against Loyola New Orleans. Tip-off in the P-MAC is at 7, and admission is free. The Tigers tip off the regular season on Monday against Southeastern Louisiana.

UL Lafayette also closes out its preseason slate tonight against Mississippi Christian at 6 before opening the regular season on Tuesday against Xavier.

After a health scare in August, LSU special assistant Ed Orgeron is back on the sideline with the Tigers. Coach O missed the first couple games of the season but traveled with the team to Kentucky and again to Auburn this past weekend. Coach Lane Kiffin said his first game back in Tiger Stadium fully recovered and with the team was against Mississippi State.

Cut 20 (13) “…part of that.”

The Tigers are on a bye this week as they prepare to host Alabama for a 2:30 kickoff in Tiger Stadium next Saturday.

2023 LSU women’s basketball national champion Angel Reese and the Atlanta Dream face an elimination game in the WNBA Finals tomorrow. After three straight double-doubles to start the series versus the Golden State Valkyries, Reese has scored just 15 points over the last two games. Golden State now leads the series three to two, and Game 6 will tip off in Atlanta’s State Farm Arena at 11:30 tomorrow.

The Pelicans host the Nuggets tonight. New Orleans is 0-and-3 to start head coach Jamahl Mosley’s first season but has lost by a combined ten total points. Point guard Dejounte Murray says it is tough to start the season that way but it shows that the team is competitive.

Cut 19 (16) “…go-to’s are.”

Tip-off in the Smoothie King Center is at 7.

UL Lafayette women’s basketball coach Garry Brodhead announced forward Ndioba Lo will miss the season with a torn ACL. The 6-3 freshman from Senegal is a promising young talent and scored 15 points in 13 minutes in the Cajuns’ exhibition against LSU-A. The Cajuns tip off the season on Tuesday against Xavier.

The LSU women’s basketball team has its second exhibition game tomorrow night against Loyola New Orleans. They tip off the regular season on Monday against Southeastern Louisiana.

Southern goes on the road for a third straight game after losing to Texas Southern on a last-second field goal last week. The Jaguars will travel to face Florida A&M on Saturday at two p-m. Both teams are 1-and-3 in SWAC play, and Southern coach Marshall Faulk says that is not where the similarity stops.

Cut 17 (21) “…just don’t know.”

Saints owner Gayle Benson released a letter to fans about the team’s trip to Paris. She said, “While the outcome on the field was not what we had hoped for, we have much to be proud of from our time together. We represented the New Orleans Saints, our beloved city and the entire state of Louisiana with class and pride on an international stage.”

The 2-and-5 Black and Gold are on a bye this week and will host Cleveland next Sunday.

The Pelicans are searching for their first win under head coach Jamahl Mosley and will have another chance at home against the Denver Nuggets tonight. The Pels blew a 23-point third-quarter lead and lost to the Nuggets in overtime last week. Mosley says having three days before the rematch was big.

Cut 21 (18) “…as necessary.”

Louisiana Tech could take a two-game lead in the Sun Belt West with a win at South Alabama this weekend. The Jaguars are coming off their first Sun Belt loss and are led by the top rushing offense in the conference. Tech has allowed a league-best 70 rushing yards per game in conference play, and coach Sonny Cumbie says his team will need to be ready for the Jaguars.

Cut 20 (10) “…the play action.”

Kickoff in Mobile is at 2 p.m.

The Saints will have an opportunity to address some areas of concern during their bye week this week. New Orleans has scored just six points in the first quarter all season. They have gone scoreless in the first quarter in 17 of their 24 games under coach Kellen Moore and have not scored on their first drive the last 11 games. Moore says they need to start better.

Cut 18 (18)  “…the opening drive.”

New Orleans was named a finalist to host both a men’s and women’s Final Four from 2032 to 2036. The Crescent City is one of seven finalists for each event and joins Indianapolis and Las Vegas as the only cities to be named finalists for both the men’s and women’s tournaments. With the next five locations already set, the hosts of the 2032 to 2036 Final Fours will be announced in July.

Mississippi State quarterback Kamario Taylor will miss the remainder of the season as he undergoes surgery on a foot injury. The sophomore played through the injury for two games before sitting out against LSU and attempting to return this week against Oklahoma. He aggravated the injury against the Sooners and left the game early. He said in a statement released by the school that his commitment to the team will not change and Starkville is home.

Louisiana Tech star tight end Eli Finley was named the John Mackey Award Player of the Week for the nation’s most outstanding tight end in Week eight. Finley grabbed a career-high 10 catches for a season-high 128 yards and a touchdown in the Bulldogs’ 26-0 win over Old Dominion. Finley and the Bulldogs will be on the road this weekend for a pivotal Sun Belt West matchup with South Alabama.

UL Lafayette’s Brent Gordon Jr. was named one of 15 semifinalists for the Jim Thorpe Award for the top defensive back in college football. Gordon has recorded 46 tackles with 5.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions, 12 pass breakups and two forced fumbles this season.

The Saints head into their bye week with a lot to talk about after a frustrating loss to the Steelers in Paris this weekend. New Orleans has now fallen to 2-and-5 to start the season, and head coach Kellen Moore says this week will give the team extra time to self-scout.

Cut 16 (17) “…forward will be.”

Former LSU star Angel Reese and the Dream have their backs against the wall after losing to the Valkyries 64-55 last night. Golden State now has a 3-2 lead in the WNBA Finals, but Reese is not giving up.

Cut 21 (14) “…win this.”

Game six is at 11:30 on Thursday.

UL Lafayette is now 5-and-3 this season and 2-and-2 in the Sun Belt after another heartbreaking road loss on Saturday, this time to Southern Miss. They’ll be on a bye this week, but head coach Michael Desormeaux says the bye week is not an off week and his team needs to focus on getting better.

Cut 20 (20) “…pretty good football.”

Grambling football coach Mickey Joseph announced that quarterback RJ Johnson remains away from the team with an undisclosed health issue that has kept him out of action for nearly a month now. Joseph says Johnson is trending in the right direction, and he will always be a part of the team and their prayers. The Tigers have gone 2-and-2 without their starting quarterback, and after a bye last week, they will return to action at Texas Southern on Saturday. Kickoff is at 7:30.