LSU will take on a familiar face when it heads to Kentucky this weekend. Kentucky’s offense is led by coordinator Joe Sloan, who was fired from LSU last season. Wildcats head coach Will Stein says he and LSU defensive coordinator Blake Baker have familiarity coaching against one another, but…

Cut 18 (15)  “…what it is”

Southern is still searching for its first SWAC win under head coach Marshall Faulk. The Jaguars will have another tough conference game with a trip to defending champs Prairie View A&M Saturday. Faulk says his offense will need to be ready for a tough Panther defense.

Cut 16 (12) “…how they play.”

Kickoff was moved to 3 p.m.

Will Wade’s LSU basketball team tips off in an exhibition game at McNeese tonight at 6:30. You’ll have to wait a little longer to see the full roster, though. Wade told the Baton Rouge Rotary Club yesterday that he is only bringing eight players to Lake Charles as returning fifth-year seniors and international commits work through the NCAA eligibility process. Wade was confident almost all of them would be ready for the start of the regular season and says some of his players have former overseas teammates who have already gained eligibility.

Cut 14 (11) “…going to take.”

The Saints were not just emotionally bruised in the loss to the Falcons. 13 players were listed on yesterday’s injury report. Alvin Kamara, Kaden Elliss, Barion Brown and Anfernee Jennings did not practice, nor did Chris Olave, as he had a rest day. Carl Granderson and Noah Fant were both limited after being sidelined against Atlanta; Tyler Shough was limited with a left-hand injury, and Jaylan Ford and Lorenzo Style made their returns from injured reserve.

LSU faces Kentucky on the road this weekend. The Tigers have not won in Lexington since the Bluegrass Miracle in 2002. It will be LSU’s second away game of the season, and quarterback Sam Leavitt says the team has learned from the mistakes it made at Ole Miss.

Cut 17 (17) “…great job communicating.”

The Saints will look to rebound from a disappointing Monday night loss to the Falcons against the undefeated Vikings this weekend. Quarterback Tyler Shough says part of being a leader is being able to move on from losses.

Cut 22 (11) “…focus on.”

The LSU men’s basketball team tips off the preseason with an exhibition at McNeese tomorrow. It will be coach Will Wade’s first game leading the Tigers since he was fired in 2022. He told the Baton Rouge Rotary Club two major things have changed since then.

Cut 20 (13) “…with N-I-L.”

Wade said only eight players on his 15-man roster will play the Cowboys as former international pros and fifth-year seniors await eligibility rulings, but he is confident most if not all of them will be eligible when the regular season starts.

The LSU men’s and women’s basketball TV schedules were announced. The women’s team will have 17 nationally televised games, including non-conference games against UNC and UConn and 11 SEC matchups. The Tigers’ home game against Vanderbilt and trip to South Carolina will be on ABC. Most of the men’s team’s SEC schedule will be on SEC Network, and so will its November 22 game against UL Lafayette.

The LSU offense ranks third in the nation in yards per game and has not missed a beat with star tight end Trey’Dez Green sidelined. The Tigers are still looking for answers at his position, but quarterback Sam Leavitt says wide receivers have stepped up to replace his production.

Cut 18 (13)  “…comes their way.”

The tenth-ranked Tigers will take an SEC road trip to Kentucky on Saturday. The Wildcats are 4-and-1 under new head coach Will Stein. He has high praise for LSU coach Lane Kiffin.

Cut 21 (08) “…quarterback play.”

Former LSU receiver Odell Beckham Jr. is signing to the Vikings practice squad after being cut by the Giants. He will have a trip home this weekend as New Orleans hosts Minnesota on Sunday. Former Tigers wideout Justin Jefferson could make his return for the Vikings after dealing with an ankle sprain.

UL Lafayette is 4-and-1 and first in the Sun Belt West after a last-second 23-20 win over Arkansas State. The Cajuns will have another big divisional game against rival Louisiana Tech this weekend. It’s the Bulldogs’ first Sun Belt game, but UL coach Michael Desormeaux says he’s been following their defense for years.

Cut 19 (14) “…they play physical.”

Tech coach Sonny Cumbie says that defense will be tested by Cajuns quarterback Lunch Winfield and his feel for the game.

Cut 20 (16) “…defensively.”

Winfield ranks first in the Sun Belt in rushing touchdowns and second in rushing yards.

Kickoff in Ruston is set for 6:30.

LSU’s big 63-14 win over McNeese let a lot of backups see extended reps. Third-string quarterback Husan Longstreet saw some action under center and at punt returner. LSU coach Lane Kiffin says he and his staff think outside the box as much as anyone.

Cut 18 (17)  “…things like that.”

With seven SEC games remaining, the Tigers will turn their focus to Kentucky this weekend, and quarterback Sam Leavitt says he’ll be fully recovered from the hamstring injury he suffered against Texas A&M.

Cut 21 (09) “…run around.”

Kickoff against the 4-and-1 Wildcats is set for 6:00.

The Falcons crashed New Orleans Domecoming 20th anniversary celebration with a 45-24 thrashing of the Saints. New Orleans turned in a disappointing performance, and quarterback Tyler Shough says there’s no way to sugarcoat it.

Cut 6 (13) “…eyes forward.”

The Saints host the 4-and-0 Vikings on Sunday

UL Lafayette visits Louisiana Tech this weekend in the Bulldogs’ first Sun Belt conference game. Cajuns coach Michael Desormeaux says the Dogs play defense the way it’s meant to be played.

Cut 22 (16) “…good coaching.”

Kickoff in Ruston is set for 6:30.

The Saints fell flat in a game that was supposed to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the reopening of the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina. By the fourth quarter, mostly Falcons fans were left in the stands as New Orleans fell 45-24 on Monday Night Football. Head Coach Kellen Moore…

Cut 10 (11) “…and move forward.”

LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt had his highest completion percentage of the season in the Tigers’ 63-14 win over McNeese, despite still dealing with a hamstring injury, which coach Lane Kiffin says actually helped him stand in the pocket and deliver. He threw for 176 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception, and Kiffin says the biggest help for his improved accuracy was better protection.

Cut 16 (16) “…play really consistent.”

Louisiana Tech quarterback Trey Kukuk threw for 185 yards and ran for 40 yards and a touchdown in the Bulldogs’ 31-29 win over Army but injured his ankle near the end of the fourth quarter. Cumbie says Blake Baker, who was the starter before fracturing his hand against LSU, is ready to start when Tech welcomes UL Lafayette this weekend.

Cut 20 (19) “…gets this week.”

The Cajuns are 4-and-1 and sit atop the Sun Belt West after a last-second 23-20 win over Arkansas State on Saturday.

Preseason basketball has arrived. The Pelicans tip off against the Thunder in OKC tonight at 7. It will be the first Pels action for new head coach Jamahl Mosley and free agent addition Bennedict Mathurin.

On Thursday, we will finally get a full look at Will Wade’s LSU basketball roster as the Tigers head to Lake Charles to face McNeese in an exhibition game.

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.”