Saints running back Alvin Kamara unexpectedly reported for OTAs today. Fans have questioned whether Kamara would be in New Orleans this season after the Saints signed free agent Travis Etienne and restructured his contract. Kamara says he was lying in bed in Miami last night when he decided to catch a 10 p.m. flight to New Orleans

Cut 19 (16) “…little smile.”

Head coach Kellen Moore and GM Mickey Loomis have avoided questions cementing Kamara’s spot on the roster alongside Etienne. Kamara says he hasn’t been involved in any offseason conversations, and they won’t affect his preparation.

Cut 20 (14) “…they’ll be made.”

The LHSAA is bringing the Boys’ Basketball State Championships back to the CAJUNDOME. Association Assistant Executive Director Karen Hoyt says basketball coaches have been asking to bring the tournament back to Lafayette for years.

Cut 7 (12) “…to fruition.”

NCAA Super Regionals begin Friday. Third-overall seed Georgia is the top team left in the country after number-one UCLA and number-two Georgia Tech were both upset in the regionals. The Bulldogs have appearances in six of the last eight tournaments but haven’t reached Omaha since 2008. Former Tiger and ESPN analyst Todd Walker says this year’s team has something those didn’t — pitching.

Cut 18 (11) “…things done.”

The Senate is holding a hearing on the Protect College Sports Act today. The bill attempts to “fix” college sports, return power to the NCAA and regulate NIL. USA Today’s Blake Toppmeyer says the SEC and Big Ten have reversed course on legislation.

Cut 20 (19) “…like this.”

Their primary issue is the proposed pooling of media rights in college sports. Toppmeyer says the two richest leagues don’t want to share that revenue.

Brother Martin five-star, Easton Royal, canceled visits to Ole Miss and Tennessee after a visit to Baton Rouge this weekend. Royal is committed to Texas, but LSU and Florida are leading the effort to flip the number one receiver in the 2027 class.

Franklin Parish High School four-star running back Trey Martin announced his three finalists are LSU, Florida and Ole Miss.

It was a historic regional round of the NCAA tournament. Little Rock and St. John’s became the first two four-seeds to advance in one tournament, and three-seeds Troy and Cal Poly also won their regionals. Former LSU star and ESPN analyst Todd Walker says the upsets defy logic.

Cut 16 (17) “…of the game.”

The Boys’ Basketball State Championships are returning to Lafayette after 12 years in Lake Charles, the LHSAA announced yesterday. Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission President Ben Berthelot says the community set the standard for the event when it hosted from 1997 to 2011.

Cut 19 (06) “…support it.”

The State Wrestling Championship is also moving to New Orleans, and the Powerlifting Championships are headed to West Monroe.

The National Football Foundation released the 2027 ballot for the College Football Hall of Fame. LSU All-Americans Alan Faneca and Patrick Peterson represent the Tigers. Former Saints offensive lineman and current coach Jahri Evans joins head coach and former Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore on the ballot. Louisiana Tech coaching legend Maxie Lambright, quarterback Matt Dunigan and Biletnikoff Award-winning receiver Troy Edwards were also included.

The College Football Playoff announced its broadcast schedule for the upcoming season. The Allstate Sugar Bowl in New Orleans will serve as a semifinal matchup this year at 6:30 on January 15, the latest the bowl has ever been played. It will be broadcast on ABC and ESPN.

The LHSAA Boys’ Basketball State Championship is headed to Lafayette. After 12 years in Lake Charles, the CAJUNDOME will host “Marsh Madness” for the first time since 2011. The Powerlifting State Championships will move to the West Monroe Sports and Events Complex, and the State Wrestling Championships will depart Bossier City and return to New Orleans.

Saints Veteran wide receiver Chris Olave has been an active participant at voluntary OTAs despite ongoing contract negotiations over a possible extension. The All-Pro missed last year’s season finale with a blood clot found in his lung, but quarterback Tyler Shough says he hasn’t missed a beat.

Cut 18 (19) “…the whole year.”

Reports have swirled about changes coming to the Pelicans roster. Vice President Joe Dumars has said the team is open to trades, and Locked On Pelicans Podcast host Jake Madison reported the only two untouchables on the roster are All-Rookie team selections Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen. Bill Simmons said on his podcast he expects to see forward Trey Murphy traded in the next three weeks. Murphy has been linked to the Celtics and Thunder.

The NCAA Regionals concluded last night with five winner-take-all finals and a delayed St. John’s win over Florida State. The Red Storm will join Little Rock as the first time two four-seeds advance to Super Regionals in tournament history. Troy will host the Trojans after waxing Florida in a 10-2 upset yesterday. St. John’s gets Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

There are two all-SEC Supers as Auburn hosts Ole Miss after surviving a scare from Milwaukee, and Georgia hosts Mississippi State.

It’s the second straight year both of the top two national seeds failed to advance after UCLA was shocked by St. Mary’s twice and Oklahoma eliminated Georgia Tech with a tenth-inning walk-off homer yesterday. The Sooners will take on Kansas in the Lawrence Super Regional, and Cal Poly advanced from the LA Regional to face West Virginia, who knocked out Kentucky in a tenth-inning walk-off.

USC upset Texas A&M last night in a 7-1 win to move on to the Chapel Hill Super Regional against UNC.

Texas will host Oregon after both schools cruised through their own regionals undefeated.

The Saints will be back on the practice field for Organized Team Activities tomorrow. New Orleans is missing veterans Cam Jordan, Demario Davis and Tyrann Mathieu, who were all around this time last year. Quarterback Tyler Shough says he’s focused on improving as the leader of the offense on and off the field in their absence, especially for a group of rookies in the same position as he was a season ago.

Cut 17 (19)  “…to prepare yourself.”

Running back Alvin Kamara has not been present at voluntary OTAs as he prepares for the season with his trainer in Miami. Despite the addition of Travis Etienne and question marks surrounding retirement and contract restructuring, Kamara’s agent, Brad Cicala (Sih-Kaluh), told NFL insider Mike Garafolo, “We plan on playing for the Saints in 2026.”

UL-Lafayette ended its season with a 19-5 loss to Mississippi State in the Starkville regional final last night. The Cajuns talented group of freshmen couldn’t keep their postseason magic alive, but head coach Matt Deggs says the future is bright.

Cut 7 (14) “…of season, man.”

While the first round of the NCAA baseball tournament is wrapping up. The college baseball transfer window officially opened today. Five Tigers have already entered the portal: third baseman Trent Carraway, right-handed pitcher Mavrick Rizy, left-hander D.J. Primeaux, righty Jaden Noot and outfielder Daniel Harden.

Northwestern State freshman left-hander Brody Trosclair also announced he’d be entering the portal. The Thibodaux native was named Southland Conference freshman of the year after going 5-and-1 with a 1.89 ERA and 55 strikeouts this season.

LSU softball ace Jayden Heavener announced she’d be transferring after leading the Tigers with 22 starts in 32 games this season. The sophomore posted a 2.81 ERA with 128 strikeouts and 22 walks. The former D1Softball Freshman All-American Second-Team selection also pitched 16 games and earned 2 saves.

Former LSU star and Super Bowl champion Odell Beckham Jr. signed with the Giants after working out with the team this morning. The 33-year-old was drafted by New York in 2014. Beckham did not play last season and has just 9 catches and 55 yards in 9 games with the Dolphins in 2024.

Cedar Creek junior left-handed pitcher and first baseman Kade Luker was named the Louisiana Gatorade Player of the Year and Class 1A MVP. He struck out 135 batters in 74 innings with a 1.04 ERA and hit .531 at the plate with five home runs, 36 RBI, 12 doubles, 7 triples and 28 stolen bags.

The UL-Lafayette baseball season came to an end last night after the Ragin’ Cajuns fell to Mississippi State 19-5. The depleted UL bullpen couldn’t keep up with the Bulldog batters who knocked 20 hits and nine runs in the final three innings. Cajuns head coach Matt Deggs didn’t make excuses after playing 11 games in 13 days.

Cut 16 (17) “…there yet.”

Mississippi State will advance to the Athens Super Regional against Georgia, the No. 3 national seed.

LSU scheduled a visit with the second-ranked safety prospect in Louisiana’s 2027 class, Jayden Anding. The Ruston High School four-star is ranked tenth in the state and is the brother of current Tiger cornerback Aidan Anding.

The final games of the NCAA Regionals will get underway this afternoon and this evening. St. John’s and Florida State are facing off in the first of two possible regional finals today at noon thanks to delays in the Tallahassee Regional over the weekend. The rest will be winner-take-all Regional finals. Oklahoma takes on 2^nd-ranked Georgia Tech at 3:00. At 6, Auburn will have a third run at Milwaukee, Florida will look to bounce back against Troy and Kentucky and West Virginia will face off in Morgantown. The final game of the night is between 19^th-ranked USC and tenth-ranked Texas A&M at 9 p.m.

The LSU Track and Field team advanced 11 tickets in both the men’s and women’s fields to the track and field championships in Eugene, Oregon, next week. The men are headlined by a trio of Malachi Austin, Grant Buckmiller and Amal Glasgow, who all qualified in the 400 meter. The Tiger Women also advanced a trio of sprinters in Tima Godbless, Athaleyha Hinckson and Shawnti Jackson in the 100-meter. Jackson will also run in the 200-meter.