The Saints-Falcons rivalry returns on Monday Night Football tonight, but more than just a key divisional game, the night will honor the Domecoming – when the team returned to the Superdome post-Hurricane Katrina. Saints’ radio voice, Mike Hoss, was a fan in the stands when Steve Gleason blocked the game’s first punt and remembers the eruption of emotion inside the Superdome…

Cut 7 (09) “…once.”

Former Saints head coach Sean Payton famously told his team in the night would only be special if they won. For New Orleans to win tonight, they will need to stop Falcons running back Bijan Robinson. Defensive end Cam Jordan says all you can do is hope to slow him down.

Cut 17 (19) “…than positives.”

LSU beat McNeese 63-14  in the Tigers’ final non-conference game of the season. Freshman d-tackle Deuce Geralds continued to shine, picking up his fifth sack of the season and rushing for a touchdown. He says it was a special moment.

Cut 20 (14) “…of my life.”

UL Lafayette won a back-and-forth game over Arkansas State 23-20 to open Sun Belt play. Kicker Tony Sterner hit a 37-yard field goal as time expired to help the Cajuns improve to 4-and-1. Head coach Michael Desormeaux says he was the difference.

Cut 21 (13) “…in the game.”

Louisiana Tech improved to 2-and-2 with a big 31-29 win over Army and will host the Cajuns on Saturday in its Sun Belt debut.

LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt played through a hamstring injury against Texas A&M last week, but coach Lane Kiffin said that he would be cautious playing him against McNeese tomorrow. With the Tigers favored by over 50 points, LSU Radio sideline reporter Gordy Rush says he shouldn’t play at all.

Cut 9 (14)  “…next week.”

Rough injury news out of Saints practice today: linebackers Pete Werner, Kaden Elliss, Carl Granderson and Anfernee Jennings were all out with lower-body injuries for a second straight day. A pair of rookies, wide receiver Barion Brown and defensive tackle Christen Miller, were both limited as they look to return after being sidelined last week. Safety Julian Blackmon was upgraded to a full participant after being limited with a calf injury.

The Saints will have one more practice tomorrow before hosting the Falcons on Monday Night Football for the 20^th anniversary of their return to the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina.

There is a full slate of college football games around the state tomorrow

Grambling kicks the day off by hosting Alcorn State for homecoming at 2:00. The Tigers will again be without starting quarterback RJ Johnson.

At 6 p.m., Southern will welcome Arkansas Pine Bluff for its homecoming game, ULM kicks off its Sun Belt schedule at South Alabama, Nicholls visits Houston Christian, and Northwestern State heads to Lamar.

At 6: 30, Louisiana Tech welcomes Army to Joe Aillet Stadium. Bulldogs starting quarterback Blake Baker is questionable to return from a fractured hand.

And at 7, UL Lafayette kicks off its conference schedule with an important Sun Belt West showdown against Arkansas State. Cajuns star wide receiver Shelton Sampson was medically cleared to play last week but did not after participating in warmups. He could make his return against the Red Wolves.

With thunderstorms expected in the afternoon and evening, state climatologist Jay Grimes says kickoffs in Baton Rouge and Lafayette could be delayed or at least dampened.

Cut 4 (11) “…way it looks.”

LSU hosts McNeese tomorrow at 6. A lot of young talent could make appearances against the Cowboys, as coach Lane Kiffin expressed concerns about keeping the starters healthy. Redshirt freshman safety Jhase Thomas made his first start last week and says he was able to get advice from a lot of veterans on the LSU defense as he prepared to face the Aggies.

Cut 18 (16) “…get myself prepared.”

The Tigers and Cowboys are scheduled to kick off at 6:45 in Tiger Stadium.

The Saints will be without running back Travis Etienne for at least the next four weeks after he was placed on injured reserve. Head coach Kellen Moore says the team will turn to Lavin Kamara and Kendre Miller.

Cut 21 (10) “…these guys.”

New Orleans signed former Ole Miss running back Ulysses Bentley to the practice squad.

Former LSU Heisman winner Jayden Daniels has been ruled out for the Commanders’ matchup with the Colts on Sunday. It is the second straight week Daniels will be sidelined with a dislocated left elbow. He chose not to have surgery on the elbow and plans to wear a brace so he can come back as soon as possible.

Louisiana Tech returns from the bye week with a home game against Army. Bulldogs coach Sonny Cumbie did not confirm whether starting quarterback Blake Baker would be back from a fractured throwing hand he suffered against LSU. Trey Kukuk started against Baylor, and Cumbie says the offense is the same no matter who is under center.

Cut 20 (15) “…of the football.”

Kickoff in Joe Aillet Stadium is at 6:30.

UL Lafayette and ULM both open Sun Belt play tomorrow. The Warhawks head to South Alabama to face the Jaguars at 6, and the Ragin’ Cajuns host Arkansas State at 7.

In the Southland, Northwestern State goes on the road to face Lamar, and Nicholls visits Houston Christian at 6.

In SWAC play, Grambling hosts Alcorn State at 2:00, and Southern welcomes Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 6:00.

Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser is back from a trip to Japan, where he fed Japanese people gumbo and Tabasco ice cream.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Louisiana Board of Regents member Wilbert Pryor made waves when he suggested that ULL, ULM and Louisiana Tech drop down from the FBS to the FCS to reduce athletics costs, as all three schools are 10s of millions in the red. He told KSLA-TV in Shreveport that he did not expect as much fan pushback as he has received for his comments in a closed budget meeting. Some fans have gone as far as to support an online petition asking for Pryor’s resignation from the board.

The Saints are celebrating the 20th anniversary of the “Domecoming” against the Falcons on Monday. Although kickoff is not until 7:15, the celebration begins at 4:00 in Champions Square, where Steve Gleason’s new music album, “Rebirth,” will debut. Shirin Braden, the VP of brand strategy for the Saints, says Irma Thomas will sing the national anthem, and Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue will headline a halftime show featuring Eric Church, Kirk Franklin, Juvenile and Cyril and Ivan Neville.

Cut 11 (08) “…to the dome.”

Just over a month away from the November 3rd election, the U.S. Senate race between Julia Letlow and Jamie Davis is in the final stretch. Letlow was believed to be the heavy favorite, but the only two opinion polls publicly released during the campaign show her leading by only four percentage points. Davis’s campaign commissioned both polls, and he says the margin in the latter poll was the response before respondents were told of the candidates’ backgrounds.

Cut 15 (07) “…a plus-nine.”

Letlow calls it a bogus poll

LSU redshirt freshman safety Jhase Thomas made his first career start against Texas A&M and could make his second against McNeese on Saturday. The Destrehan product made four tackles and defended one pass against the Aggies. He says he’s learned from his father Fred Thomas, who spent 12 seasons in the NFL, including eight with the Saints.

Cut 20 (16) “…whole life.”

11^th-ranked LSU kicks off against McNeese on Saturday night at 6:45 in Tiger Stadium

Former LSU women’s basketball star Angel Reese was named the WNBA Defensive Player of the Year. She led the league with 12.1 rebounds a game and became the first player in WNBA history to grab 500 boards in a single season. She also ranked third in the league in steals. Her Atlanta Dream punched their ticket to the WNBA semifinals with a 93-75 win over the Mystics last night.

3-and-1 UL Lafayette kicks off Sun Belt action with a big West Division game against Arkansas State on Saturday. The Cajuns have the top-ranked total defense in the conference and the second-best scoring defense. Head coach Michael Desormeaux says the staff has put together game plans that allow the players to execute well, and that’s what they’re doing.

Cut 16 (18) “…sound on it.”

Louisiana Tech hosts Army for its final non-conference game on Saturday. The Black Knights have the number-one run game in the country, so Bulldogs coach Sonny Cumbie says the secondary will need to step up against the run.

Cut 19 (09) “…run attack.”

ULM opens Sun Belt play at South Alabama.

LSU hosts McNeese this weekend. Cowboys head coach Matt Viator says he and many of his players are from Louisiana, so they’re excited for the opportunity to play in Tiger Stadium. For many athletes at FCS schools, big games like this are a chance for athletes to put their best on film against a Power Four opponent, but Viator says he won’t be worried about roster retention when his team takes the field.

Cut 20 (14) “…we’re in now.”

The LHSAA has suspended the Carroll High School football team for the rest of the season and barred Assumption High from hosting any more home games this year. The penalties come after a brawl broke out between Carroll players and Assumption fans following Mustangs’ 16-6 home win last Friday. KNOE-TV Sports Director Aaron Dietrich…

Cut 9 (14)  “…games this year.”

UL Lafayette opens its Sun Belt schedule against Arkansas State. The Red Wolves are 2-and-2 to start the season, coming off a 17-14 win over Kennesaw State. Third-year quarterback Trey Owens is fifth in the conference with over 800 passing yards this year. Cajuns coach Michael Desormeaux says they’re a good team still finding their offensive identity.

Cut 18 (14) “…up front too.”

Just months after Louisiana Tech officially joined ULL and ULM in the Sun Belt, a member of the Louisiana Board of Regents is suggesting all three drop to the FCS. Shreveport Attorney Wilbert Pryor made the suggestion during a recent UL system budget hearing, citing concerns about how much money the schools’ athletics programs lose each year.

Cut 4 (09) “…10-million-dollars.”

Louisiana Tech hosts Army, and ULM visits South Alabama this weekend.

11th-ranked LSU hosts McNeese on Saturday. The Tigers rank 3rd in the nation in total defense, as they’re getting great contributions from older players and freshmen like defensive tackle Deuce Geralds. Geralds is second on the team in sacks with four, and linebacker Davhon Keys says he’s been impressive since he stepped foot on campus.

Cut 18 (15) “…the big screen.”

The Cowboys are coming off their second win of the season. Head coach Matt Viator says he is more focused on his team than the Tigers.

Cut 20 (13) “…football team too.”

Kickoff in Tiger Stadium is set for 6:45.

Northwestern State has another tough draw with a trip to Lamar on the slate for this Saturday. The Cardinals are 3-and-1 to start the season, and Demons head coach Blaine McCorkle says they are the best FCS team they have played so far. NSU quarterback Zach Wilcke threw for 254 yards and three touchdowns against Southeastern and McCorkle says the offense is improving.

Cut 19 (19) “…young playmakers.”

Nicholls will also hit the road to take on Houston Christian. Both teams are 1-and-1 in conference play.

In the SWAC, Southern and Grambling are both prepping for their homecoming weekends. Grambling hosts Alcorn State. Starting quarterback RJ Johnson is expected to miss his second straight game. Head coach Mickey Joseph says Jacobe Robinson will get the start, but Ashton Frye will play as well. The Jaguars welcome Arkansas Pine-Bluff. Both teams are searching for their first conference win.