The Saints reported for training camp today. New Orleans has been one of the breakout candidates of the offseason after finishing last in the NFC South last year. They finished the season 4-and-1 in their last five games as quarterback Tyler Shough settled into the starting role. GM Mickey Loomis says that narrative isn’t a bad thing.

Cut 19 (20) “…we just are.”

He highlighted Shough and corners Quincy Riley and Kool-Aid McKinstry as players they need to keep improving this season.

Wide receiver Mason Tipton and defensive lineman Keeshawn Silver were placed on the Physically-Unable-to-Perform list to start camp. Loomis said wide receivers Chris Olave and Jordyn Tyson and running back Kendre Miller are all cleared and good-to-go.

Final revisions to the Protect College Sports Act have been made. Lawmakers have sent the new language to the SEC and the Big Ten and given them a deadline of 8 a.m. tomorrow to announce their positions. The bill will either move to the U.S. Senate floor next week or be delayed and likely die completely. One of the largest changes to the bill was the addition of a 20-million-dollar retention pool that would allow schools to exceed the revenue share cap to retain student-athletes.

Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield will play out the final season of his contract and become an unrestricted free agent. Mayfield has made little progress on a contract extension to stay in Tampa and previously said he would put any negotiations on hold once training camp started. Bucs D-tackle Vita Vea also requested a trade from the organization yesterday after holding in during veteran minicamp.

Former LSU basketball standouts Max Mackinnon, Skylar Mays and Darius Days are all signing deals to play in Australia’s NBL. Mackinnon is signing a two-year deal with his hometown Brisbane Bullets where his father won a championship and League MVP in 2007.

The Saints report for their second training camp under head coach Kellen Moore today. New Orleans went 6-and-11 in Moore’s first season but ended the season 5-and-4 when rookie Tyler Shough took over as the starting quarterback. Luke Johnson covers the Saints for NOLA-dot-com and says fans should be hopeful heading into year two.

Cut 16 (16) “…of the ball.”

Former LSU standout safety Jamal Adams is signing with the Minnesota Vikings. The three-time Pro Bowler could serve as a replacement for veteran Harrison Smith as he considers retirement, but after taking all of his Raiders snaps at linebacker last season, he will more likely be a versatile roamer in Brian Flores’s defense, taking snaps as a safety, linebacker and even edge rusher.

Brian Kelly will officially join CBS Sports’ college football coverage. Kelly will be a member of the studio show “Inside College Football” on Tuesdays and call mainly Mountain West games. His booth debut will come August 29 in a week zero matchup between North Dakota State and Jacksonville State. Former ULM quarterback Doug Pederson will also call select games on CBS Sports Network this season.

A pair of former Tigers are headed to Australia’s NBL. Guard Skylar Mays signed with the Melbourne Phoenix on a one-year deal. After helping the Tigers to a Sweet 16 appearance in 2019, Mays played in over 100 NBA games with the Hawks, Trail Blazers and Lakers. Guard Max Mackinnon signed a two-year deal with the Brisbane Bullets. Mackinnon played NBA Summer League ball with the Hornets and now returns to his hometown team, where he was a developmental player in 2022.

Two-time Pro Bowl D-tackle Vita Vea requested a trade from the Buccaneers. Vea is entering the final season of a four-year deal, and talks on a possible extension had stalled. Tampa is also negotiating an extension with quarterback Baker Mayfield, who enters the final season of his contract.

LSU football players are scheduled to report for practice next Tuesday in the first preseason camp of the Lane Kiffin era.

LSU released the men’s basketball schedule for Will Wade’s first season back in Baton Rouge. LSU tips off the regular season against LSU-NO November 3rd. They also host in-state matchups against La Tech November 9th, ULM November 18th and ULL December 22nd. SEC action tips off January 2nd against South Carolina and concludes February 5th at Missouri.

Top-rated LSU baseball signee Logan Schmidt is deciding between LSU and junior college. Schmidt was not happy with his offer from the Cleveland Guardians after being selected 59th in the MLB draft and did not sign. The left-handed pitcher is considering Golden West College in California so that he can be eligible for next year’s MLB Draft. If he comes to LSU, Schmidt could not return to the draft until 2029.

Former LSU ace Kade Anderson was named Texas League Pitcher of the Week after striking out seven in five perfect innings in a Double-A matchup against Tulsa.

Chiefs offensive coordinator and New Orleans native Eric Bienemy’s wife, Mia Bienemy, was shot at their home in Virginia. The couple’s 27-year-old son Elijah Zion was charged with the shooting. She is in stable condition after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds.

LSU coach Lane Kiffin emphasized that he will continue to invest heavily in the transfer portal at LSU, even when not completely rebuilding the roster like he did this offseason. He said programs that have tried to invest in only traditional high school classes have not survived. The most infamous case of this is Dabo Swinney’s Clemson who brought in only five portal players in seven years before adding ten this offseason. Kiffin said freshmen don’t stick around anymore because of playing time or money.

Cut 17 (14) “…have that.”

He proposed a limit on the earnings of incoming freshmen similar to NFL rookie contracts.

Top LSU baseball signee Logan Schmidt is not signing with the Cleveland Guardians. The left-handed pitcher was taken 59^th in the MLB Draft but reportedly wanted more than the one-point-seven-million dollars Cleveland could offer him. The number-12 prospect in the country is now deciding between LSU or a junior college that would allow him to re-enter the draft next year.

At SEC Media Days last week, LSU coach Lane Kiffin said his goal at LSU was to combine the top portal classes with elite high school talent. Kiffin has become known as the “Portal King” in college football, and welcomed the number-one class this offseason. He said people need to reframe how they look at transfers.

Cut 16 (11) “…eligibility left.”

He says the structure of college football contracts encourages finding and developing portal talent rather than focusing just on high schoolers who may not stick around but get paid just as much.

LSU announced the 2026-27 men’s basketball schedule. The Tigers open the regular season November 3rd at home against LSU New Orleans. SEC play begins January 2nd when LSU hosts South Carolina. The Tigers have home matchups with Tennessee, Texas, Auburn, Vanderbilt, Ole Miss, Florida, Texas A&M and Arkansas. The 18-game conference slate concludes February 6th at Missouri.

Saints players report for training camp tomorrow. Vibes are high in New Orleans with second-year head coach Kellen Moore and quarterback Tyler Shough leading the way. The Saints will need both to take the next step this fall if they want to contend in the NFC South. New Orleans welcomed running back Travis Etienne, guard David Edwards and first-round wide receiver Jordyn Tyson this offseason to bolster the offense and figure out whether Shough can be the next franchise quarterback.

Former LSU star Angel Reese played in her third All-Star game this weekend. Reese had no points in just nine minutes, but she did tally five rebounds and four assists, including a pass to the Storm’s Dominique Malonga, who threw down the All-Star Game’s first dunk since Lady Tigers legend Sylvia Fowles. Reese’s Team Coop lost 129 to 122 to Team Spoon.

LSU was picked to finish fifth in the SEC in the Preseason Media Poll behind Georgia, Texas, Ole Miss and Texas A-and-M. Many national media members have said it’s national championship or bust for LSU and first-year head coach Lane Kiffin. Kiffin says those types of expectations are why he came to LSU.

Cut 12 (13) “…that does it.”

The Tigers have a tough nine-game SEC schedule for the first time ever this season. The conference added the game for its latest TV deal and to boost strength of schedule, but Kiffin said it will do more harm than good.

Cut 13 (11) “…anyone else.”

Georgia is the only team of the four voted ahead of LSU the Tigers do not play. They also have games against sixth-place Alabama and eighth-place Tennessee.

LSU landed nine players on the preseason All-SEC team, the third most of any school. Tight end Trey’Dez Green, tackle Jordan Seaton, edge rusher Princewill Umanmielen, linebacker Whit Weeks and punter Grant Chadwick are on the first team. Cornerback DJ Pickett and safety Ty Benefield made the second team, and center Braelin Moore and linebacker TJ Dottery are on the third team.

LeBron James is headed to the 76ers. James is signing a two-year, eight-million-dollar contract with a player option in what he called his “last decision.” The 41-year-old said he still wants to chase the feeling of winning another championship. His new home in the Eastern Conference means he will make only one trip to New Orleans in what could be his final season.

Former Cowboys quarterback and CBS analyst Tony Romo was arrested on suspicion of operating a vehicle while under the influence in Milwaukee. Romo performed poorly on a field sobriety test, was taken into custody, booked and released.

Four incoming LSU softball freshmen will compete in the 2026 Premier Girls Fastpitch All-American Game. The future Tigers are pitchers Addie Rackley and Ayla Tuua, catcher Karmen Vazquez and outfielder Sydnee Williams.