Tonight is the semifinals of the high school football playoffs and there are several big games in the Monroe area. Top-seeded Ruston, who is looking to get to the Superdome for the fourth consecutive season will host Zachary in a rematch of the 2023 Division one non-select state title game.

The other semifinal game in that bracket is Neville versus Ouachita Parish. The Tigers beat the Lions by one point in week eight of the season. Sterlington hosts St James in a rematch of last year’s Division three non-select state title game won by the Panthers.

At Yulman Stadium in New Orleans, Tulane hosts North Texas in the American Athletic Conference Championship game. The winner will get a spot in the 12-team college football playoff. Green Wave Coach Jon Sumrall is looking for a big game from his 22-year-old quarterback Jake Retzlaff…

Cut 17 (09) “…big deal”

Kick off is at 7 PM.

LSU has announced football season ticket costs will remain the same for 2026. The LSU Board of Supervisors approved a price increase for season tickets, but after the bad loss to Texas A&M, Governor Jeff Landry said the board should rethink that vote and they did.

Four months after being blind-sided by the resignation of its athletic director, ULM has its new man. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

St. Thomas More High School Quarterback Cole Bergeron has signed with Georgia Tech.

Number-21 Tulane hosts number-24 North Texas tonight in the American Conference Championship game, with the winner likely gaining an invitation to the College Football Playoff. The Mean Green come into the matchup with the top offense in the nation, averaging over 46 points a game. Green Wave Head coach Jon Sumrall has confidence his defense can slow them down…

Cut 16 (06) “…end for sure.”

Two huge matchups in New Orleans highlight tonight’s semifinal action on the select side of the high school football playoffs. Top-seeded Edna Karr, ranked eighth in the country by MaxPreps, will host fourth-seeded Catholic. The Cougars beat the Bears in the semis by two points last year, and the LHSAA Network’s Spencer Verrett expects another close game.

Cut 13 (10)  “…in this one”

There are big games in Monroe tonight on the non-select side as Ruston hosts Zachary, Ouachita Parish is at Neville and St. James visits Sterlington.

The fifth ranked LSU women’s basketball team fell behind 17 to 3 at Duke last night but stormed back and ended up winning comfortably 93 to 77. The Lady Tigers had six players score in double figures led by Senior Flau’jae Johnson who had 18 points, five rebounds and three assists. Jada Richard from Opelousas had six points on the night…

Cut 22 (10) “…do whatever we want”

LSU is at UNO on Sunday afternoon.

In recruiting news…Four-star edge rusher Trenton Henderson has signed with LSU. Auburn and Florida State made a strong push to sign Henderson, who is ranked as the seventh best player in Florida according to 24-7 sports.

LSU could lose defensive coordinator Blake Baker. Baker is reportedly poised to be the next head coach at Tulane. Former LSU and La Tech assistant Joe Sloan will reportedly be the new offensive coordinator at Kentucky.

For the first time this season, the fifth-ranked LSU women’s basketball team did not score 100 points, but the Lady Tigers still improved to 9-0 after beating Duke 93-77. Flau’jae Johnson had 18 points as LSU shot 60 percent from the field.

LSU defensive coordinator Blake Baker is reportedly set to become the next head coach at Tulane. Former LSU offensive coordinator Joe Sloan has reportedly been hired as the new O-C at Kentucky. And Billy Napier is headed back to the Sun Belt as he is expected to be named as the new head coach at James Madison.

ULM introduced 32-year-old S-J Touhy as its new athletics director.

Cut 10 (09) “…eligibility rules anymore.”

Two huge matchups in New Orleans highlight tonight’s semifinal action on the select side of the high school football playoffs. Catholic is at Edna Karr and John Curtis faces St. Augustine. The LHSAA Network’s Spencer Verrett says the Patriots are playing their best football of the season right now…

Cut 14 (11) “…fun to watch.”

Today is the final day of the early signing period. LSU has already signed the top offensive lineman in the state, Brysten Martinez from East Ascension High School. Texas pushed hard for Martinez, but Martinez says LSU hiring Lane Kiffin sealed the deal for him…

Cut 18 (09) “…with LSU already.”

Veteran linebacker DeMario Davis is the Saints candidate for the Walter Payton Man of the Year.

On3.com ranks LSU’s 2026 recruiting class as the tenth best in the country. The Tigers have 16 commitments and ten players have officially signed including Lafayette Christian Academy wide receiver Brayden Allen…

Cut 17 (11) “…over here”

As of now, LSU does not have a quarterback in its high school recruiting class. They were trying to flip one of the top prep quarterbacks in the country. But Landon Duckworth from Alabama will sign with South Carolina this afternoon.

ULM signed 20 players yesterday, many of them are junior college players, including Christian Johnson a quarterback from Hutchinson Community College.

McNeese’s recruiting class is ranked as the best in the Southland Conference, it includes a three-star quarterback from Texas,  Brady Barrier.

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Tomorrow it’s the semifinals of the high school football playoffs. Sixteen teams will advance to next week’s state championship games in the Superdome. There is a rematch tomorrow night of a state title game from year ago as St. James will visit Sterlington. The Panthers beat the Wildcats by a touchdown last year in the Division 3 non-select state title game. The LHSAA Network’s Spencer Verrett expects another close game…

Cut 14 (09) “…a crazy matchup”

Crazy game for the LSU men’s basketball team last night as they nearly blew a double digit lead on the road versus Boston College, but rallied at the end to tie it at regulation and the Tigers won it in overtime 78-69. LSU did not miss a shot in overtime, three for three from the field, one for one from three point territory and ten for ten from the free throw line.  LSU is 8-0.

Despite the coaching change, LSU could still have a top ten recruiting class. The Tigers 2026 class is currently ranked 10^th by On3.com. Highlighting the class so far is Richard Anderson. The number one defensive tackle in the country out of Edna Karr, ended up signing on Wednesday despite reports saying he would wait to see who his position coach would be. ‘

In Acadiana, Lafayette Christian’s Bryaden Anderson signed after recently decommitting from Oklahoma. Anderson is glad he’s staying home…

Cut 16 (09) “…at LSU”

LSU men’s basketball improved to 8-0 as the Tigers beat Boston College 78 to 69 in O-T. The Tigers were down by five with five minutes to go. LSU forced overtime and won with Dee-dawn Thomas scoring 23 points to lead the way.

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Tomorrow night is the semifinals of the high school football playoffs, and several south Louisiana teams will head to north Louisiana in the hopes of playing in the Superdome next week. In Division One non-select, Zachary is at top seeded Ruston. The LHSAA Network’s Spencer Verrett says the Bearcats have beaten the Broncos the last three years in the postseason.

Cut 13 (10)  “…heading up there”

Some other intriguing south versus north matchups. In Division two non-select, Plaquemine is at top seeded North Desoto. St. James visits Sterlington in a rematch of last year’s division three non-select state championship game won by the Panthers. And in Division four non-select, fourth seeded Jeanerette is at top-seed Haynesville, while South Plaquemines visits Mangham.

La Tech men’s basketball lost last night, falling to Georgia Southern 77 to 69. Also the Cajuns fell to Lamar, while ULM beat Mississippi Valley State.

Some of the state’s best high school football prospects signed with LSU today. Jeff Palermo has more on the first day of the early signing period…

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

The nation’s number one rated defensive tackle Richard Anderson, also signed with LSU today. Anderson has been a long-time LSU commitment. However, according to reports last night, he was going to wait and sign, but that didn’t happen.

The Ragin Cajuns signed 21 players today, 14 from the state of Louisiana, including safeties Jayden Reed from Neville High School and Luke Green from Lafayette Christian High School.

Matt Belinson from the Ruston Leader reports that Louisiana Tech head football coach Sonny Cumbie will return next season. Cumbie just led the Bulldogs to their first winning season since 2019. But Tech safety Jacob Fields has entered the transfer portal. Fields led the team in tackles and had three interceptions.

ULM has signed Neville offensive lineman Van Martinez. Most of the Warhawk signees are junior college players, including quarterback Christian Johnson from Hutchinson Community College.

The 7-and-0 LSU men’s basketball team puts its perfect record on the line tonight as the Tigers visit Boston College in the SEC-ACC Challenge. The Eagles are 4-and-4 and LSU will need to defend Donald Hand Junior. The six-foot-five wing player is averaging 16 points a game. Tip off is at 6:15.

Louisiana’s best high school football players are signing with colleges today as a three-day early signing period begins. Lafayette Christian Academy star Brayden Allen was one of LSU’s first signees. Lee Brecheen of Louisiana Football Magazine says the Tigers are getting a good one in Allen

Cut 6 (09) “…slot corners.”

The nation’s number one defensive tackle Richard Anderson from Edna Karr High School is holding off on signing at LSU but remains committed. Anderson is reportedly waiting to see who his new defensive line coach will be as head coach Lane Kiffin is still figuring out his staff.

But Anderson’s teammate, four-star safety Aiden Hall has signed with LSU. Brecheen says he is a big defensive back for the Cougars…

Cut 20 (09) “…down hill”

The Pelicans let one slip away last night as they had a four point lead late against the Timberwolves and lost in overtime to Minnesota 149 to 142. New Orleans is now 3-and-19 on the season and Zion Williamson is expected to miss several weeks with a right hip injury.

LSU men’s basketball has announced Jalen Reed will miss the rest of the season with an Achilles tendon injury. Tough break for Reed, who missed most of last season after tearing his ACL. The 7-and-0 Tigers are at Boston College tonight and LSU is  ranked 19^th in the NET rankings.

In college hoops last night…Grambling lost a close one to Tulane 65 to 63. The matchup featured 11 lead changes and seven ties. Grambling’s last second three-pointer missed at the buzzer.

Nicholls lost at Creighton 96-76 last night. The winless Colonels will finally play a home game this Saturday when they host UIW.

Today is the first day of the early signing period for high school recruits. But two five-star defensive linemen who have been committed to LSU for months are not expected to sign this week.

According to on3.com,  Lamar Brown from University High and Richard Anderson from Edna Karr High School will stay committed to LSU, but it’s unknown if they will sign with the Tigers. They will most likely sign their national letter of intent during the signing period in February.

Jerit Roser of Louisiana versus Y’all says with a new coaching staff, the N-I-L packages may have changed, which is why they are holding off on signing…

Cut 14 (15) “…for college”

In other football news, LSU will allow its new offensive coordinator Charlie Weis to return to Ole Miss for the playoffs.

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Another tough night for the Pelicans as they lost in overtime to Minnesota 149 to 142. Trey Murphy had 33 points and had 15 rebounds, but Timberwolves superstar Anthony Edwards had 44 points. And before the game the Pelicans announced forward Zion Williamson will miss at least the next three weeks with a right hip injury. The often injured Williamson has appeared in just ten games .

The LSU men’s basketball team is at Boston College tonight for the ACC-SEC Challenge. The Tigers are 7-0 after winning the Emerald Coast Championship in Florida. But Coach Matt McMahon announced that Jalen Reed will miss the rest of the season with a left Achilles injury. Reid missed most of last season with a knee injury.

Last night, Tulane topped Grambling 65 to 63 and Nicholls fell to 0-7 with a 96-76 loss to Creighton.

LSU football coach Lane Kiffin is settling into his new job as head coach of the Tigers. Kiffin says it was difficult to leave Ole Miss and not have the opportunity to finish the season with the Rebels. But when he got to Baton Rouge Sunday and drove past Tiger Stadium, he called former LSU coach Ed Orgeron.

Cut 8 (12) “…to the fans.” (crowd laughs)

Orgeron has expressed interest in returning to LSU as an assistant coach.

On his first full day on the job, Kiffin hired an offensive coordinator, Charlie Weis Junior, who followed Lane down to Baton Rouge. Five other former assistant coaches at Ole Miss have also been hired at LSU.

LSU defensive coordinator Blake Baker has reportedly interviewed for the head coaching job at Tulane. If Tulane does not hire Baker, he could remain as the D-C for LSU.

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New Orleans native and Pro Football Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk has his first head coaching job. Faulk has been hired as the head coach at Southern. Faulk faces a big task in turning around a program that just completed a 2-10 season. Faulk says winning games is important, but he also wants to produce great human beings…

Cut 5 (15) “…football”

Saints head coach Kellen Moore says safety Justin Reid will miss time after suffering a knee injury in the loss to the Dolphins. New Orleans is at Tampa Bay on Sunday.

Former LSU Tiger Kayshon Boutte caught a touchdown pass in the Patriots’ 33-15 win over the Giants. New England is now 11-2.

In basketball, the two-time defending champs in the Southland Conference, the McNeese Cowboys, opened league play with a 71-67 loss to UIW.

LSU’s new head football coach Lane Kiffin arrived in Baton Rouge to cheering fans yesterday after departing Ole Miss amid their fans’ boos. He’s leaving a program that went 11-1 that will play in the College Football playoff this month. Kiffin says he wanted to coach the Rebels in the playoffs, but his request was denied by Ole Miss AD Keith Carter. Tiger Rag Editor Glen Guilbeau…

Cut 12 (13) “…to mad at him”

Kiffin had a busy first day on the job at LSU, it included a meeting with the nation’s top high school prospect in the Class of 2026, University High of Baton Rouge lineman Lamar Brown.

In other coaching news, Tulane’s John Sumrall has been hired as the next head coach at Florida, but will continue to coach the Green Wave during the postseason. Southern introduces Pro Football Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk as its new coach today.

The Saints played poorly in the first half, but rallied in the second half only to lose 21-17 to Miami. The Dolphins led by 16 at halftime. Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan…

Cut 19 (14) “…lose it.”

New Orleans is now 2-and-10 and is at Tampa Bay next Sunday.

The Ragin Cajuns are headed to a bowl game for an eighth consecutive season after U-L Lafayette defeated the Warhawks 30-27 in overtime for its fourth consecutive win. Coach Michael Desormeaux says when the team was 2-6, most people didn’t think they could get to six wins to be bowl eligible…

Cut 18 (18)  “…so.”