Former LSU defensive end Jack Pyburn was claimed off waivers by the Chiefs and is withdrawing his name from the Baton Rouge lawsuit seeking a fifth season of college eligibility. Pyburn led the NFL with four sacks this preseason but was cut by the Buccaneers and was expected to sign with LSU if he was not on an active NFL roster.

Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports reports officials from SEC member schools could seek to punish LSU for rostering former NFL players Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris by placing the program on probation, barring the Tigers from competing for conference championships or even expelling them from the conference. Lane Kiffin says his only focus is making LSU better…

Cut 20 (17) “…anyway.”

Kiffin says Wright practiced with the team today and so did Notre Dame fifth-year transfer Junior Tuihalamaka.

A legendary LSU football player from West Monroe has passed away. Former All-American Jerry Stovall, who finished second in the 1962 Heisman Trophy balloting, has died at the age of 85. Stovall’s nickname was “Mr. Everything” because he played four different positions at LSU from 1960 to 1962. In an interview with KNOE-TV in 2009, Stovall said he was able to excel on the football field even though he was not the best athlete…

Cut 13 (11)  “…of those.”

Stovall also spent four seasons as the head coach of the Tigers and led LSU to an 8-3-and-1 season with an Orange Bowl appearance in 1982.

The Saints claimed undrafted rookie offensive lineman Mason Murphy and fourth-year defensive lineman Colby Wooden off waivers today. New Orleans waived tight end Treyton Welch and wide receiver Kevin Austin to make room, leaving them with just four receivers on the 53-man roster, but Head coach Kellen Moore says more moves are on the way.

After months of waiting, LSU officially kicks off the Lane Kiffin era on Saturday against Clemson. The two teams faced off in a top-ten matchup last season, but both finished the year 7-and-6. The Advocate’s Jon Blau, who covered Clemson last year, says both Tigers teams are hard to predict.

Cut 14 (13) “…40-plus transfers.”

Kickoff in Death Valley is set for 6:30.

Southern lost its first game under new head coach Marshall Faulk 30-17 against Alabama State. The Jaguars will now get ready for their home opener this Saturday against Kentucky State. Faulk says he will not tolerate the self-inflicted mistakes that cost them this week’s game.

Cut 18 (12) “…beat themself.”

The Saints made their final roster cuts to get down to their final 53 players. New Orleans kept both Spencer Rattler and Zach Wilson to back up quarterback Tyler Shough. Kicker Daniel Carlson took over the kicker spot after signing with the team last week. Running back Devin Neal was placed on season-ending IR, and Kendre Miller and Audric Estime round out the backfield rotation behind Travis Etienne and Alvin Kamara. The Saints released veteran corner Isaac Yiadom and kept former UFL corner Jayden Price, one of the standouts of camp.

McNeese lost its season opener to defending Southland champs Stephen F Austin 38-27. Starting quarterback Jake Strong injured his shoulder in the first half and did not play in the second half. Backup Devin Lippold replaced Strong and threw for 118 yards and a touchdown; he was also intercepted once. Head coach Matt Viator says Lippold’s performance was encouraging…

Cut 20 (14) “…anyway.”

It was cut down day across the NFL on Sunday. The Saints released kicker Charlie Smyth and plan on going with veteran Daniel Carlson as their place kicker. New Orleans is keeping three quarterbacks, as Spencer Rattler and Zach Wilson will back up Tyler Shough. Rookie receiver Jordyn Tyson will start the season on I-R and will not be eligible to play until week 5.

Sam Leavitt will make his long awaited debut in an LSU uniform on Saturday night when the Tigers kick-off the season against Clemson. John Blau covers the Tigers for the Advocate and says it seems Leavitt has recovered from foot surgery, but chemistry with his receivers is a question mark….

Cut 15 (12) “…like there”

Kiffin will speak later today with reporters to preview the matchup with Clemson.

The Marshall Faulk era at Southern University started with a loss as the Jaguars committed ten penalties in a 30-17 loss to Alabama State. Coach Marshall Faulk’s team had an 11 point lead in the second quarter and let it slip away because of costly mistakes…

Cut 17 (12) “…hard to come back from.”

Grambling thumped Clark Atlanta 49 to 7. Reginald Johnson threw for 133 yards and a TD.

McNeese lost to Stephen F Austin 38 and 27 and also lost its starting quarterback Jake Strong to a shoulder injury. Backup Devin Lippold threw a touchdown and an interception in relief. Coach Matt Viator says it was an encouraging performance by Lippold…

Cut 20 (14) “..anyway”

After a dismal performance last week against the Rams, the Saints finished the preseason on a high note with a 27-24 win over the Dallas Cowboys. Daniel Carlson might have won the job as the team’s field goal kicker, as he made the game-winning kick. A 53-yard boot with just under two minutes to go. He also made a 38-yarder in the first quarter.

Both quarterbacks put up similar numbers. Zach Wilson threw for 93 yards, while Spencer Rattler had 79 yards passing. New Orleans ran the ball much better in this game, led by Audric Estime with 46 yards on four carries. Zamir White had a nifty 11 yard TD Run. And the Saints only committed four penalties.

In other preseason action, Former LSU Tiger Jack Pyburn had two more sacks for Tampa Bay to finish the preseason with four sacks. We’ll find out this weekend if he makes the Bucs, or does he get cut and return to the LSU Tigers for a fifth season.

There were a couple of upsets in the Southland on Thursday, and McNeese would like to pull another upset tonight as the Cowboys host reigning Southland Champion Stephen F Austin. McNeese returns 71-percent of its offensive output from last season, including quarterback Jake Strong, who threw for two thousand yards and had 18 total touchdowns last season.

In the SWAC.. Grambling State kicks off the season tonight against Clark Atlanta at 6 p.m.. Head coach Mickey Joseph named junior quarterback Jacobe Robinson as the starter in the spring but has not committed to who will take the first snap in the opener.

Southern will start Christian Johnson at QB today as the Jags battle Alabama State in Birmingham. Coach Marshall Faulk likes Johnson’s attitude…

Cut 17 (14) “…win football games”

Kick off is at 2.

The SEC and Commissioner Greg Sankey have been added to the temporary restraining order granted by a Baton Rouge judge to make a group class of 2022 athletes, including those who signed pro contracts, eligible to return for a fifth season. At the request of their attorneys, Judge William Jorden amended the order to also temporarily block the SEC’s rule punishing schools for signing former pros. Governor Jeff Landry told Talk 107-3 in Baton Rouge that the associations have to abide by the court’s ruling.

Cut 3 (10) “…college football.”

Court documents also state that ex-LSU defensive end Jack Pyburn intends to commit to LSU if he is deemed eligible and cut by the Buccaneers. His last preseason game is tonight at 6:30.

The Saints’ preseason finale is tonight versus the Cowboys. The starters will sit, so it will be the last chance for players to make their case on why they should make the 53-man roster. The Saints have not yet announced who will start at quarterback.

Grambling State kicks off the season tomorrow against Clark Atlanta at 6 p.m.. Head coach Mickey Joseph named junior quarterback Jacobe Robinson as the starter in the spring but has not committed to who will take the first snap in the opener. He says he is comfortable playing more than one signal-caller.

Cut 18 (20) “…a strong competition.”

Southern opens the season against Alabama State at 2, and McNeese hosts Stephen F Austin at 6.

Louisiana Christian upset Northwestern State 42-37 last night. It was the first win over a D-1 program for the NAIA school, but head coach Ben McLaughlin says his team wasn’t thinking about that when they scored two quick touchdowns in the second half.

Cut 12 (09) “…lot of fun.”

Attorneys representing the 30-plus athletes seeking a fifth season of eligibility have now named the SEC and Commissioner Greg Sankey as defendants in the case along with the NCAA. They believe that the SEC’s rule prohibiting schools from rostering former pro football and basketball players violates the court’s ruling against the NCAA and will seek a preliminary injunction addressing both NCAA and conference rules in a hearing scheduled for Thursday.

Governor Jeff Landry weighed in on the situation while on Talk 107.3 in Baton Rouge.

Cut 5 (12) “…college sports.”

Also included in the amended documents obtained by The Baton Rouge Advocate is a statement that former LSU defensive end Jack Pyburn intends to return if the court allows and he is cut by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Pyburn signed with the Bucs as an undrafted free agent and made two sacks in his preseason debut.

The Saints close out the preseason tonight as they visit the Cowboys at 7. The starters will sit for the third time this preseason.

19^th-ranked Southeastern Louisiana was one of three ranked FCS teams to lose last night, falling 34-28 to Houston Christian. The Lions fumbled six times and turned the ball over three times, including one interception in quarterback Kyle Lowe’s first start. He also threw for 150 yards and two touchdowns and added another score and 54 yards on the ground.

Northwestern State lost to Louisiana Christian of the NAIA 42-37. The Wildcats became the 13^th NAIA team to ever beat an FCS program.

Nicholls cruised past Mississippi Valley State in a 44-10 win.

The only Louisiana Southland team yet to open the season is McNeese. The Cowboys kick off against defending conference champs Stephen F Austin at 6 tomorrow. Head coach Matt Viator says the week zero primetime home game is a great opportunity for the program.

Cut 19 (19) “…a special experience.”

History happened in Natchitoches last night as Louisiana Christian upset Northwestern State 42 to 37 marking just the 13^th time that an NAIA school has defeated an FCS school. Bryce Perkins threw for two touchdowns and Datlan Cunningham from Alexandria rushed for two touchdowns in the biggest win in school history.

There was also a major upset in Hammond last night as Houston Christian stunned 19^th ranked Southeastern Louisiana 34 to 28 as the Lions could not overcome three turnovers.

Nicholls was an easy winner over Mississippi Valley state 44 to 10 as Ean Rodrigue threw for 264 yards and three touchdowns.

The Saints conclude the preseason tonight as New Orleans visit the Cowboys. Most of the starters are not expected to play. Two position battles to watch, back-up quarterback and place kicker. Charlie Smyth, Tanner Brown and Daniels Carlson are batting for the kicking job.

___________________________________________________________

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey has been added as a defendant in the Louisiana case over a fifth-year of eligibility for several college athletes. Attorneys for the plaintiffs believe Sankey is going against a court order by threatening severe punishment if players who signed pro contracts with NFL and NBA teams play in SEC games. A preliminary injunction hearing is scheduled for Thursday.

The Marshall Faulk era begins tomorrow for the Southern Jaguars as the Jags face Alabama State in Birmingham. The Pro Football Hall of Famer for New Orleans is ready get his new career started with a “W”…

Cut 16 (13) “…perform within them”

Southern star defensive end Ckelby Givens is expected to play. For now he has been granted a fifth year of eligibility.

Jalen Brewster, the top-rated recruit in the 2027 class, has shut down his recruitment and confirmed his commitment to Texas Tech. LSU has been targeting Brewster for a flip since he visited campus this summer, but the five-star defensive lineman plans to remain a Red Raider as he focuses on his senior season.

Adding to conference rules banning former pros, Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports reports College Football Playoff leaders are considering a policy that prevents any team with an ex-NFL player from competing in the postseason. LSU, of course, has received commitments from two former pros, tight end Dae’Quan Wright and defensive tackle Zxavian Harris.

ESPN announced an original series on the life and career of Hall of Fame and former LSU football coach Nick Saban. The six-episode series will feature hundreds of hours of never-before-seen footage and over 70 voices from Saban’s career, including LSU coach Lane Kiffin. Episode one premieres on ESPN October 8, with episode two, titled “Death Valley,” airing a week later.

College football is officially back with three FCS games in Louisiana tonight. Nicholls hosts Mississippi Valley State at 6:00, and Northwestern State welcomes Louisiana Christian to Natchitoches at 7:00.

Southeastern Louisiana hosts Houston Christian at 6:00. The Lions open the season as the 20th-ranked team in the FCS coaches poll, but head coach Frank Scelfo is reloading a roster that lost 26 seniors. He says he is relying on talented backups from last season to step up in bigger roles, like senior quarterback Kyle Lowe, who saw the field a lot as the number two QB last year.

Cut 17 (19) “…got that now.”

Saints head coach Kellen Moore announced the starters will not play in the team’s preseason finale tomorrow night. The New Orleans first-stringers will sit out all three preseason games.

LSU Center Braelin Moore will represent the number 18 jersey this season for the Tigers. Offensive linemen can only wear jersey numbers from 50 to 79, so Moore will wear a number 18 patch, which signifies leadership qualities.

Also, linebacker Whit Weeks and tight end Trey’Dez Green will wear the number seven jerseys, as they are the top playmakers on each side of the ball.

The penalties would be harsh if LSU or any other SEC school decides to play an athlete that signed a contract with an NFL, NBA or WNBA team. Sources say the head coach of the program could be suspended for half a season. The program would face a fine that is half of its operating budget, and the school would lose voting privileges.

LSU appears to be waiting on further direction from the courts. There’s a preliminary injunction hearing on Monday in Baton Rouge Judge William Jorden’s courtroom. The players who participated in an NFL training camp are hoping Judge Jorden will rule they still should receive a fifth-year of college eligibility.

______________________________________________________

Tonight is the start of the college football season as there are three F-C-S games on the schedule. 20^th ranked Southeastern Louisiana hosts Houston Christian at 6 PM in Strawberry Stadium.

Northwestern State begins three year under head coach Blaine McCorkle as the Demons host Louisiana Christian in the first meeting between the two schools since 1968.

Nicholls opens its football season tonight against Mississippi Valley State. The Colonels were four and eight last season but played better once senior Ean Rodrigue took over as the starting quarterback. Head Coach Tommy Rybacki says Rodrigue’s decision making is faster this year…

Cut 19 (18) “…his decision-making.”

The game is scheduled for 6 p-m.

SEC teams that sign a player who signed a contract with an NFL or NBA team face a half-season-long suspension for the head coach and a fine equal to 50-percent of the sport’s annual operating budget thanks to a new rule approved by university presidents. Tiger Rag editor Todd Horne expects more lawsuits against that rule and says the SEC’s authority may not hold up.

Cut 4 (11) “…state of Louisiana.”

The official vote to approve the policy was 15-0 with LSU abstaining.

The NFL will not allow any player who returns to college to sign with an NFL team this season. Those players will continue to be treated as free agents, and if they do return to college football, they will not be eligible for next year’s draft.

The league also announced that players who violate safety rules prohibiting hip drop tackles, horse collar tackles, launching, hits on a defenseless player or blindside blocks three times in a season will receive a one-game suspension.

With running back Ty Chandler now on season-ending IR and Devin Neal and Alvin Kamara sidelined, the Saints traded the 49ers for running back Zamir White. White says he was shocked by the trade, but he has had a good time with the team so far and is excited to compete for a roster spot.

Cut 19 (13) “…grateful for it.”

LSU transfer wide receiver Tre Wilson was a five-star recruit out of high school, but his career at Florida was derailed by injuries. He says all he can do is learn from the experience.

Cut 17 (16) “…go with it.”

The Pelicans agreed to a two-year, 16-million-dollar deal with guard Bennedict Mathurin. The former sixth-overall pick averaged over 17 points a game with the Pacers and Clippers last season.