LSU football coach Brian Kelly kicked off SEC Media Days in Atlanta this morning. LSU brought in 18 veterans in the top-ranked transfer class this offseason. Kelly expects the class to bolster a defensive unit he acknowledged was improved last season, but not championship level. He says defensive coordinator Blake Baker is elite, and his players should be as well.

Cut 4 (14) “…level defense.”

Louisiana Tech was officially invited to the Sun Belt this morning. Locked On Sun Belt Podcast Host Dave Schultz says the Bulldogs need to reinvest the money it will save from regional rivalries to compete in one of the top mid-major conferences.

Cut 14 (12) “…the Sun Belt is.”

LSU ace Kade Anderson was selected 3^rd by the Mariners in the first round of the MLB Draft. Anderson says Seattle was the only team to visit him in Louisiana, and he had a great visit with Assistant General Manager Andy McKay…

Cut 20 (22) “…like a dream.”

Right-hander Chase Shores went to the Angels with the 47th pick. The Red Sox grabbed a pair of Tigers righties in juniors Anthony Eyanson 87th overall and Jacob Meyers at pick 268. D-H Ethan Frey was selected 95th by the Astros, and the Brewers used pick 185 to grab infielder Daniel Dickinson in the sixth round. First baseman Jared Jones will be joining former teammate Paul Skenes after being picked 263rd by the Pirates.

LSU football coach Brian Kelly opened SEC Media Days this morning. Kelly highlighted a revamped roster he says is built to compete for championships. For the Tigers, that path will begin in Clemson week one.

Cut 21 (07) “…one and oh.”

Kelly is 0-and-3 in season openers with LSU. The Tigers have lost their last five straight.

He expects quarterback Garrett Nussmeier to improve in year two.

Cut 22 (10) “…with that.”

Southern University defensive end Ckelby Givens was named the preseason SWAC Defensive Player of the Year. Givens leads the nation in tackles for loss with 26-and-a-half and ranked eighth last season in sacks.

LSU lefty Kade Anderson went third overall to the Mariners in the first round of the MLB Draft yesterday. The 21-year-old was expected to be the top pick to the Nationals, who instead selected high school shortstop Eli Willits.  Anderson celebrated the moment with his family in Madisonville.

Cut 19 (10) “…grateful for.”

Right-handed pitcher Chase Shores was also selected 47^th overall by the Angels. Righty Anthony Eyanson went to the Red Sox with pick 87, and D-H Ethan Frey was selected by the Astros with the 95^th pick.

Louisiana Tech is returning to the Sun Belt after conference leaders voted to officially invite the Bulldogs this morning. Tech was previously art of the league from 1991 to 2001 before departing for the WAC. The earliest LA Tech can make the move is 2026, the same year Texas State departs for the PAC-12. The Bulldogs will have to pay the five-million-dollar buyout from Conference USA.

LSU’s proposed new arena project is facing yet another delay after the CEO of the firm, who was the sole finalist to build the facility, was indicted for allegedly rigging the bid process for a similar project at UT Austin. Tiger Rag Executive Editor Todd Horne says there’s a lot of unknown.

Cut 12 (11) “…right now reeling.”

The LSU football team added two more front office members. The Tigers hired Ohio State Director of Player Personnel Sam Petitto to be the team’s Director of Scouting and Personnel Strategy. The Amite-native spent nearly a decade under Nick Saban at Alabama, where he annually helped orchestrate top recruiting classes. New Orleans native Jeff Martin is returning to LSU as the Executive Director of Player Personnel after serving as USC’s Director of Scouting and relations.

ESPN analyst Kiley McDaniel is still mocking LSU ace Kade Anderson to go first overall in the MLB draft. Anderson’s pitching partner, right-hander Anthony Eyanson, is another top-50 prospect. The UC San Diego transfer’s stock skyrocketed after a dominant season in Baton Rouge, and D1 Baseball analyst Aaron Fitt says it might not be done rising.

Cut 15 (13) “…in Omaha.”

McDaniel projected Eyanson to go 42nd overall to the Rays.

LSU commit Raegan Ricken pulled his name from the MLB Draft. The 6-foot-5 right-handed pitcher is ESPN’s 121st-ranked prospect in the draft and Perfect Game’s 69th-ranked high schooler in the class.

Louisiana Tech announced its Conference USA basketball schedule. The Bulldogs will open league play at home December 29 versus UTEP, and close the season with back-to-back road games at Liberty March 5 and Delaware March 7.

LSU baseball commit Raegan Ricken will make it to campus. The 6-foot-5 right-hander out of California pulled his name from this weekend’s MLB Draft. Perfect Game ranks Ricken as the No. 69 high school prospect, and ESPN has him 121st among all draft-eligible players.

One Tiger who certainly will be heading to pro ball is pitcher Kade Anderson. After a season where he led the nation in strikeouts and earned Most Outstanding Player at the College World Series, D1 Baseball analyst Aaron Fitt expects him to go first overall. He says Anderson is already the best college pitcher.

Cut 14 (13) “…even harder.”

United Airlines is adding two new flights to the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport for LSU fans this season. The airline will fly direct to Birmingham November 7 ahead of the Tigers’ matchup with Alabama and to Benton, Arkansas November 14 when the team faces off against the Razorbacks. Flights will depart the Friday before the games and return Sunday.

The Pelicans signed lockdown defender Her Jones to a three-year, 68-million-dollar contract extension. The 26-year-old is now under contract for five years with a player option in 2029.

New Orleans lost their Summer League Debut to the Timberwolves yesterday 98-to-91. First-round duo Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen had 14 and 13 points, but both rookies posted seven turnovers in 27 minutes.

LSU has the 6th-ranked recruiting class in the country, according to On3, after landing a pair of defensive line commits yesterday. U High five-star and top-ranked athlete Lamar Brown announced his commitment in a heated recruiting battle versus Texas A&M. Three-star edge rusher DeAnthony Lafayette chose the Tigers over Miami and Oklahoma.

Five-star University Lab lineman Lamar Brown announced his commitment to LSU on ESPN2 today. With his Cubs teammates behind him in front of a packed U High gym, ESPN’s top overall recruit put on the purple LSU cap and revealed a gold Tigers baseball jersey.

Cut 9 (11)  “…(applause) go Tigers.”

Brown is the third five-star commit in a 2026 class On3 now ranks the sixth in the nation. He joins top overall wide receiver and fellow top ten recruit Tristen Keys.

LSU also landed a commitment from three-star edge rusher and outside linebacker DeAnthony Lafayette today. The Orlando product chose the Tigers over Oklahoma and Miami.

The Tigers missed out on four-star edge rusher Jamarion Carlton, who announced his commitment to Baylor today. Carlton chose the Bears over LSU, Texas and Texas Tech.

The MLB Draft kicks off Sunday and LSU left-hander Kade Anderson hopes his name is the first one called. An elite lefty with a four-pitch mix, many view Anderson as the safest option at number one overall. D1 Baseball analyst Aaron Fitt thinks Anderson is already the best pitcher in college baseball and may not be done improving.

Cut 18 (18) “…an All-Star.”

Right-handers Anthony Eyanson and Chase Shores will likely also hear their names called Sunday. Fitt says Shores, who will likely go near the third round, has the talent to improve to a top pick next season if he returns to LSU.

Louisiana Tech legend and three-time WNBA Champ Cheryl Ford has returned to the game as the girls’ basketball coach at Arcadia High School. Ford will lead a Lady Hornets team coming off back-to-back state championship appearances.

The Pelicans will tip off the NBA 2K26 Summer League in Las Vegas at 2:30 against the Timberwolves. Former LSU center William Baker and McNeese forward Christian Shumate are both on the Pels Summer League Roster. Shumate played four years in Lake Charles, and now the Chicago native has another opportunity in the Bayou State.

Cut 17 (19)  “…back here.”

Also making the trip to Vegas will be former LSU guard Cam Carter with the Spurs and Louisiana Tech center Kenneth Lofton Jr. with the Celtics. Former LA Tech teammates Isaiah Crawford and Daniel Batcho will share the hardwood again as they suit up for the Kings’ summer league squad.

The CEO of one of the finalists to build LSU’s new arena has been indicted in a federal case for bid-rigging a similar project at UT Austin. Oak View Group was able to subcontract its competitors and submit the sole qualified bid to build Texas’s Moody Center, which LSU officials have named as the inspiration for a new arena.

Former LSU star D-J LeMahieu is headed for a change of scenery. The Yankees designated the two-time batting champ for assignment. LeMahieu turns 37 on Sunday and is batting .266 this season.

The MLB Draft begins Sunday in Atlanta, and several national championship-winning Tigers will come off the board. Lefty ace Kade Anderson has been mocked first overall and ranks as the number one prospect on ESPN and second on MLB.com. Right-hander Anthony Eyanson could go towards the end of the first round, ranked 45th on ESPN and 40th by MLB.  Both rank flamethrower Chase Shores towards the end of day one selections. Infielders Daniel Dickinson and Jared Jones and D-H Ethan Frey all project to be early day two picks.

Five-star U-High lineman Lamar Brown is scheduled to make his commitment tomorrow. Zach Nagy of SI on LSU says it’s a fierce battle between LSU and Texas A&M for the number one recruit in Louisiana.

Cut 8 (14) “…and he knows it.”

The Saints unveiled the franchise’s first-ever white helmet today. The alternate helmet will be worn with the team’s color rush jersey this season and features an old gold fleur-de-lis and facemask that matches the jersey.

The Pelicans announced their group opponents for the Emirates NBA Cup. New Orleans will face the Lakers, Clippers, Grizzlies and Mavericks once each in West Group B.

LSU also received a commitment from three-star Haynesville safety Isaiah Washington. Washington has led the Golden Hurricane to back-to-back state championship appearances at quarterback. Haynesville coach David Franklin says there was an opening at QB his freshman year.

Cut 17 (19) “…leader now.”

Minden High School right-handed pitcher Landon Brewer announced his commitment to Louisiana Tech.

Locked On Sun Belt Podcast Host Dave Schultz reports that momentum has shifted to Louisiana Tech’s favor to join the Sun Belt. He says the West has always been behind the Bulldogs, and some votes might have shifted in the East to get the ball rolling. He says whether or not Tech has all the necessary votes, as of right now, the Bulldogs are the only school under serious consideration.

Haynesville safety and quarterback Isaiah Washington announced his commitment to LSU July 4th. The three-star prospect chose the Tigers over Arkansas, Tulane, and Louisiana Tech. Haynesville football coach David Franklin told Tiger Rag Radio Washington will be an elite athlete in the LSU secondary.

Cut 16 (13) “…room to grow.”

Centenary College is welcoming Hal Mumme and his air raid offense as the new offensive coordinator for the Gents. Mumme brings over 40 years of coaching experience to Shreveport. His last stop in Louisiana was as head coach at Southeastern in 2003, where he helped restart the Lions football program.

The Saints are bringing football to France. Senior Vice President of Communications Greg Bensel says a delegation from the team, including owner Gayle Benson and linebacker Demario Davis, will aim to grow American football in France through events such as meet-and-greets and the launch of a flag football program.

Cut 15 (10) “…it more popular.”

The Saints released their new alternate helmet today. The new hardware features a white base with an old gold Fleur-de-lis on each side, a black-lined old gold stripe down the middle, and a matching gold facemask. The white and gold scheme will seemingly match the Saints’ color rush uniforms, but the team is expected to release a new alternate jersey sometime before training camp that could replace the color rush or throwback uniforms.

Angel Reese was named the cover athlete for the WNBA Edition of NBA2K26. The former LSU star is also debuting her first signature shoe, the Angel Reese 1, on the cover. She joins OKC’s Shai-Gilgeous Alexander and NBA great Carmelo Anthony as this year’s cover athletes.

LSU left-hander Kade Anderson was named the top male athlete in Louisiana this year. The Madisonville native earned the Allstate Sugar Bowl James J. Corbett award after leading Division One in strikeouts this season and helping the Tigers to an eighth national championship. Anderson was also ranked as the number one prospect in the MLB Draft by ESPN analyst Kiley McDaniel. McDaniel says he still expects Anderson to go number one in Sunday’s draft after the Nationals fired their president of baseball operations, Mike Rizzo, and manager Dave Martinez Sunday.

Cut  19 (09) “…to Anderson.”

LSU announced senior quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, senior wide receiver Chris Hilton, and junior linebacker Whit Weeks will represent the Tigers along with head coach Brian Kelly at SEC Football Media Days July 14.

Locked On Sun Belt Podcast host Dave Schultz says Louisiana Tech still doesn’t have the votes to join the league, but Commissioner Keith Gill has invested significant political capital to convince Sun Belt schools to approve to Bulldogs.

Cut 20 (19) “…the conference.”

The report comes weeks after ULM discontinued its women’s tennis program to cut costs. The Warhawks currently sponsor the minimum required 16 programs to be a D1 FBS school.

Sun Belt Football Media Days will kick off in New Orleans with the West Division July 22. The Ragin’ Cajuns will be represented by offensive lineman Jax Herrington, safety Tyree Skipper and head coach Michael Desormeaux. Joining second-year ULM head coach Bryant Vincent will be tight end Nate Sullivan Jr. and linebacker Billy Pullen.