11:40 LRN Sportscast

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey kicked off SEC Football Media Days in Tampa. In his State of the SEC address, Sankey echoed official statements from the conference and many member schools that support the effort behind the Protect College Sports Act but say it needs changes. He says his top priority is that the legislation is enforceable.

Cut 6 (12) “…following the law.”

Sankey also said there have been real conversations about the SEC breaking away from the NCAA due to frustrations with the governing body and the reluctance of other Division-one members to facilitate change.

Former LSU All-American golfer Sam Burns of Shreveport had a two-stroke lead entering the fourth round of the British Open. But he bogeyed the first three holes on Sunday, lost the lead and never got it back. Burns finished third behind the winner Ryan Fox and the second-place finisher Cameron Young.

LSU and new head coach Lane Kiffin will not take to the podium at Media Days until Thursday, the final day of the event. The trio of players accompanying Kiffin is linebackers Whit Weeks and T.J. Dottery, and tight end Trey’Dez Green. LSU Sports Information Director Michael Bonnette says the Tigers have a really deserving group.

Cut 14 (12) “…preseason All-America.”

Former ULM running back Ahmad Hardy has been medically cleared after being shot at a concert in Mississippi in May. Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz says today was his first day back to a full recovery but does not know what his recovery and return-to-play will look like.

Former LSU star Paul Skenes won his third start in a row on Sunday as the red-hot Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Cleveland Guardians seven to one. Skenes allowed one run over seven innings for his ninth win of the year.

4:45 LRN Sportscast

LSU announced week zero matchups with Northwestern State and ULM in 2026 and 2027. The Tigers will also host Southern for only the second time ever in 2028 and renew a historic in-state rivalry with Tulane in 2030- the first meeting between the schools since 2009.

LSU baseball outfielder commit Anthony Murphy decommitted from the Tigers after being selected in the 16th round of the MLB Draft. Murphy is Perfect Game’s 39th-ranked high schooler but would have had a tough path to see the field in Baton Rouge with three incoming transfer outfielders and a trio of top incoming freshmen.

LSU outfielder Daniel Harden announced his commitment to Houston after entering the transfer portal earlier this summer. The Prairieville native played in 22 games with two starts.

Former LSU All-American golfer and Shreveport native Sam Burns tied the lowest ever round at men’s major championship with a 62 at The Open Championship. Burns miraculously birdied the final three holes to enter the weekend five-under and only three strokes behind the leader, Lucas Herbert.

ULM lost eight straight games to close out the 2025 season. The Warhawks retained starting quarterback Aidan Armenta and four starting offensive linemen. Head coach Bryant Vincent says he has great talent in the trenches.

Cut 20 (18) “…just become infectious.”

The Warhawks host Louisiana Tech October 17 in the first game in the I-20 rivalry in over 25 years. Bulldogs coach Sonny Cumbie says fans on both sides can start creating their own memories and traditions in the historic rivalry.

Cut 6 (09) “…conference play.”

The Pelicans wrap up Summer League with a game against the Pacers Saturday night. Tip-off is at 8 p.m.

11:40 LRN Sportscast

LSU announced week zero matchups with Northwestern State and ULM the next two seasons and a week one game against Tulane in 2030. The Tigers will also host Southern in week two of the 2028 season.

Ex-LSU golfer Sam Burns tied the lowest-ever round in a men’s major championship with a 62 at The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. Burns holed six birdies on the back nine and scored no bogies.

Former LSU star Tommy White makes his major league debut tonight as the A’s host the Nationals. Another former LSU star Gage Jump will make the start for the Athletics.

UL Lafayette is coming off a 6-and-7 season last year. Head coach Michael Desormeaux returns a lot of production but will depend on some young talents. He says he likes what he has in Lafayette.

Cut 16 (16) “…fast as possible.”

Five-star wideout Monshun Sales committed to Indiana. He’s 247Sports’ number-one receiver in the 2027 class and 13th-overall prospect. The Indianapolis native chose the hometown team over Texas, LSU, Alabama and Ohio State.

Louisiana Tech makes its Sun Belt debut October 10 against UL Lafayette. Offensive coordinator Tony Franklin retired, so it’s up to offensive line coach and former co-coordinator Nathan Young. Young inherits redshirt junior starting quarterback Blake Baker, who led the Dogs to a 4-and-1 record in games he stayed healthy in last year. Baker was sidelined with a torn ACL last season, but head coach Sonny Cumbie expects him to be back like he never left.

Cut 19 (13) “…before the injury.”

Former Lady Tigers star Flau’jae Johnson and the Storm take on Caitlin Clark and the Fever tonight at 6:30. The pair, of course, faced off in the 2023 national championship and 2024 Elite Eight.

5:30 LRN Newscast

Supporters of year-round Daylight Saving Time are calling on the U.S. Senate to approve the Sunshine Protection Act. The U.S. House has passed legislation that would make Daylight Saving Time permanent. President Trump has said he’ll sign the bill if it reaches his desk. Louisiana is prepared to immediately adopt permanent Daylight Saving Time thanks to legislation sponsored by Haughton Representative Dodie Horton that was approved in 2020…

Cut 3 (11) “…clock.”

A state judge has ordered Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill to pay nearly 245-thousand dollars in legal fees after her office sued the Caddo Commission for allegedly violating the state’s Open Meetings Law. Murrill says she plans to appeal the ruling…

Cut 5 (12) “…enforcing the law.”

U-S Senator John Kennedy says the Republican-backed measure known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill” has reduced the number of Americans who were receiving SNAP benefits by four-million. Kennedy says that’s because the legislation required able-bodied adults to work, volunteer or attend school in order to receive the government benefits

Cut 11 (06) “…food stamps.” (2x)

Louisiana Tech enjoyed its first winning season under coach Sonny Cumbie in its final season in Conference USA. The Bulldogs have the most returning production of any Sun Belt school. Cumbie was able to retain defensive coordinator Luke Olsen and a lot of his dominant group.

Cut 18 (17) “…ready to emerge.”

4:45 LRN Sportscast

11 LSU football players were named to Nike’s Blue Ribbon Elite NIL partnership, more than any other school. Headliners include linebacker Whit Weeks, tight end Trey’Dez Green and cornerback DJ Pickett.

Saints running back Alvin Kamara is finalizing a reworked deal to give the Saints more cap room and secure his spot alongside Travis Etienne in the backfield. The two are expected to split carries, with Etienne taking the lead after signing a 52-million-dollar deal in March.

Southern Defensive back Herman Brister is a preseason All-SWAC first-team selection. The Jaguars had their worst season since 2010, winning just two games last year. Brister says he expects this year’s group to be a different team with new head coach Marshall Faulk at the helm.

Cut 19 (16) “…off the field.”

Sun Belt Media Days wrapped up today. Louisiana Tech joins the conference after its first winning season under head coach Sonny Cumbie. He says the Sun Belt has premier programs in all major sports.

Cut 16 (18) “…is excited.”

Tech was picked by the coaches to finish fourth in the West in its first season. ULM was picked to come last, but third-year head coach Bryant Vincent says they don’t know his team.

Cut 17 (18) “…who are we.”

1:30 LRN Newscast

We could be switching to year-round Daylight Saving Time if the U.S. Senate approves the Sunshine Protection Act. When Louisiana switches from Daylight Saving Time to Standard Time, the sun sets around 5 p.m. in December and January. Haughton Representative Dodie Horton says her constituents want more daylight later in the day…

Cut 4 (08) “…than negative.”

Even though President Trump never put Sharpie to paper, the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act is now law. The most sweeping federal housing legislation in a generation aims at making home ownership more accessible. Norman Morris, the CEO of Louisiana Realtors, says one of the biggest ones is placing restrictions on single-family home purchases by investors.

Cut 8 (12) “…off the market.”

Judge John Davidson said the state’s lawsuit against the Caddo Commission for violating the state’s Open Meetings Law was frivolous, was never properly investigated and should never have been filed. Attorney General Liz Murrilll’s Office was ordered to pay nearly 245-thousand-dollars in legal fees. But Murrill says her office is charged with enforcing the open meetings law, and after an investigation, it was determined a violation occurred…

Cut 7 (07) “…judicial scrutiny.”

At Sun Belt Media Days in New Orleans, UL Lafayette head coach Michael Desormeaux says after taking over midseason and starting eight games last year, quarterback Lunch Winfield will be a game changer for the Cajuns.

Cut 21 (11) “…adverse situations.”

The Cajuns were picked to finish second in the Sun Belt West in the preseason coaches’ poll.

12:30 LRN Newscast

As the size of the Meta data center in Richland Parish grows, so do concerns over how much it could cost utility ratepayers. Jeff Palermo reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

If you bought a Louisiana Powerball ticket, you might want to go check those numbers. An unclaimed ticket sold in St. Bernard Parish won two-million-dollars. The winning ticket expires January 11.

A state judge has ordered Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill to pay nearly 245-thousand dollars in legal fees after her office sued the Caddo Commission for allegedly violating the state’s Open Meetings Law. Murrill says she plans to appeal the ruling…

Cut 5 (12) “…enforcing the law.”

Murrill alleges seven Caddo Commissioners violated the law when they privately met to discuss preparing a resolution to welcome U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders to Shreveport in June 2025.

A man and woman from Houma were arrested for allegedly physically and sexually abusing children. Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Deputy Blake Tabor says what’s especially disturbing is that 57-year-old Thomas Tucker passed himself off as someone children could trust and confide in.

Cut 14 (10) “…of Society Ministries.”

11:40 LRN Sportscast

Saints running back Alvin Kamara is finalizing a restructured deal to take a pay cut to stay in New Orleans. The 30-year-old had a jaded back-and-forth with the front office regarding his future after the Saints signed free-agent running back Travis Etienne (AY-chan). Nola.com’s Matt Paras (“Paris”) says in an offseason where the Saints lost Taysom Hill and Demario Davis, it’s good to see a veteran star return.

Cut 11 (10) “…people are happy.”

Grambling is picked to finish second in the SWAC West in the conference preseason poll. Third-year head coach Mickey Joseph says he tried to lead a balanced attack when he arrived at Grambling, but now he knows the team’s identity.

Cut 16 (15) “…want to bang.”

Ex-LSU star Tommy White is headed to the Majors. The Athletica called up the slugging third baseman and he’s expected to make his Major League debut tomorrow against former teammate Dylan Crews and the Nationals. The former second-round pick was hitting .301 with one home run and 17 RBIs in 21 games in Double-A this season.

The Sun Belt West takes the stage at Sun Belt Media Days today. UL Lafayette came second in the West in the preseason coaches’ poll with fifth-year head coach Michael Desormeaux. Quarterback Lunch Winfield took over midway through the season and led the Cajuns to a 4-and-4 record. Desormeaux says that experience makes a big difference heading into this year.

Cut 21 (18) “…long time.”

Louisiana Tech finished fourth in the poll and ULM was picked last in the division.

5:30 LRN Newscast

50 Cent’s Shreveport investment could be in jeopardy after posting a cryptic Instagram message that said some people in the city don’t want things to get better. He plans to transform dormant industrial spaces into state-of-the-art film and television production facilities. Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux notes the rapper’s efforts date back several years, so there’s no way he’s going to pull out of the city completely.

Cut 7 (09) “…will go forward.”

The U.S. House of Representatives voted to pass the Sunshine Protection Act, which would make Daylight Saving Time permanent. The measure will head to the Senate, where Congresswoman Julia Letlow says it faces an uncertain fate.

Cut 13 (05) “…so we’ll see.”

Year-round Daylight Saving Time would result in more sunlight in the winter evening hours but later sunrise times. Supporters argue evening sunlight will be good for local economies, while opponents raise concerns about dark commutes for students and workers.

Former LSU All-American quarterback Bert Jones will have his number-seven jersey retired during LSU’s matchup with Texas this season. Jones joins Billy Cannon, Tommy Casanova, Jerry Stovall and Charles Alexander as the former Tigers to have their jerseys retired. Jones says he joins incredible company.

Cut 11 (13) “…always special.”

Jones name and number will be enshrined above the south end zone. The number seven will not retire.

Saints running back Alvin Kamara is finalizing a pay cut to stay with the Saints. Speculation had swirled about the 30-year-old being cut or traded thanks to his and free-agent addition Travis Etienne’s big contracts. With the pay cut, he and Etienne can share the backfield, and Kamara can stay at least one more season with the team that drafted him in 2017.

4:45 LRN Sportscast

Former LSU All-American quarterback Bert Jones will have his jersey retired this season. The Ruston native started for LSU from 1970 to 1972 and went 26-6-and-1. He won three bowl games and an SEC Championship and left campus holding school records with 3,255 passing yards and 28 touchdowns. Jones says playing in Death Valley was unforgettable.

Cut 10 (12) “…special time.”

First-year Southern Head Coach Marshall Faulk represented the Jaguars at SWAC Media Day today. Southern is coming off a two-and-ten season, but the Pro Football Hall of Famer says his offense will do whatever it takes to win.

Cut 20 (12) “…their strengths.”

Southern was picked to finish fifth in the SWAC West in the conference preseason poll.

Former Saint Terron Armstead and New-Orleans-dot-Football’s Nick Underhill announced Saints running back Alvin Kamara is agreeing to a pay cut to stay on the roster for another season. Kamara’s future with the team has been uncertain since the Saints signed free agent Travis Etienne, but the new deal will help the New Orleans salary cap and keep him with the team that drafted him.

The NCAA Rules Subcommittee has approved the ABS challenge system for college baseball. The system can be used in any game where the technology is available, including Trackman data. It is expected to go into effect as soon as 2027.

Sun Belt East schools took the stage at Media Days today, with the West getting its turn tomorrow. ULM was picked to finish last in the division in the preseason coaches’ poll, and Locked On Sun Belt podcast host Dave Schultz says this is a make-or-break season for third-year head coach Bryant Vincent.

Cut 18 (15) “…the Sun Belt.”