The NFL releases its 2026 schedule tonight and it’s been leaked the Saints will open the season on the road at Detroit. The Black and Gold will also be on the road Thanksgiving weekend as they will visit Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and the Bengals in Cincinnati.

In high school football news…two-time winning state championship coach Joe Spatafora is leaving Union Parish for a high school coaching job in Arkansas. Spatafora led the Farmers to state titles in 2013 and 2023. Coach Spat and Union Parish were also runners-up in 2020, 2021 and 2022.  His record at Union was 179-74.

McNeese is mourning the death of its legendary football coach Bobby Keasler. Keasler guided the Cowboys to four Southland Conference football championships and in 1997 Keasler was at the helm when the Pokes made an appearance in the Division One-Double-A national championship. The New Iberia native also coached at U-L-M for three seasons before returning to Lake Charles to retire. He was 80 years old.

The LSU baseball team finishes out the regular season with a three-game series against 19th ranked Florida that starts tonight at Alex Box Stadium. The only way the Tigers can make the NCAA Tournament at this point is to win next week’s SEC Tournament. Coach Jay Johnson says they’re focused on the Gators, but they also have an eye toward the SEC Tourney.

Cut 16 (11) “…have to do.”

The Cajuns host Sun Belt Conference leader Coastal Carolina for senior weekend that begins tonight at Tigue Moore Field. Coach Matt Deggs says one senior he will definitely miss is Lee Amedee, the team’s second leading hitter.

Cut 18 (21)  “…better every year.”

LSU begins the final SEC series of the season tonight as the Tigers host Florida. It will be the final games at the Box for a couple of key contributors to last year’s national championship team, outfielder Chris Stanfield and pitcher Zac Cowan. Coach Jay Johnson says it’s rare to have talented players like these two guys stay for their senior seasons.

Cut 17 (20)  “…season this year.”

First pitch is at 6:30.

Four schools won baseball state titles in Sulphur yesterday. Claiborne Christian blanked Maurepas 8 to nothing. Glenmora over Pitkin 3 to 2. Ouachita Christian shut out Covenant Christian four-zip. Mangham outscored Welsh 11 to 7.

_____________________________________________________-

Louisiana Tech and the Ragin Cajuns begin today on the bubble to make the NCAA Tournament, if they are unable to win their conference championships. The Diamond Dogs host Sam Houston. Tech is 17-10 in Conference USA, while the Bearkats are 12-15.

The Ragin Cajuns begin a series against Coastal Carolina, which leads Southern Miss by one game for first place in the Sun Belt. Not only are they trying to win a regular-season conference championship, but they also have a chance to host an NCAA Regional. U-L Lafayette Coach Matt Deggs says both teams do a lot of things well.

Cut 19 (21) “…for both teams.”

First pitch is at 6 p-m Tigue Moore Field.

We’ve known for a while that the Saints will be playing a game in Paris this season. Now, we know the date and their opponent – October 25th against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Jeff Duncan, who covers the Saints for The Advocate and NOLA-dot-com, says everyone thought that their opponent would be the Browns, but the NFL had other ideas.

Cut 3 (11) “…an attractive matchup.”

The full NFL schedule comes out tomorrow.

The Netflix hit series “Quarterback” will return for a third season on July 14^th.  It’s gives viewers unprecedented access to four NFL quarterbacks and this year cameras will go behind the scenes with former LSU star Jayden Daniels of the Washington Commanders. Tampa Bay’s Baker Mayfield, Tennessee’s Cam Ward and Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco will also be featured.

The LSU baseball team will begin its final SEC series of the season tomorrow night as the Tigers take on 19^th ranked Florida. The only way LSU can make the NCAA Tournament is if they win the SEC Tournament, so Coach Jay Johnson says they are going to focus on this weekend’ series with an eye toward the SEC Tournament next week…

Cut 22 (16) “…eye on that”

Florida will send Aidan King to the hill tomorrow. He’s 7-2 with 2.19 ERA. LSU did not name a starter, so it’s possible LSU is holding William Schmidt to next Tuesday when the Tigers open play in the SEC Tournament.

The Southland Conference Tournament begins tomorrow with double-elimination play in the Hammond and Beaumont Bracket. McNeese and Nicholls will face off tomorrow in Hammond, while Southeastern hosts H-C-U.

It will be the Saints and Steelers in the first ever NFL regular season game in Paris. Initial reports had New Orleans playing the Browns, but it turns out the Black and Gold will take on Pittsburgh in France on October 25^th at 8:30 AM central time. Jeff Duncan, who covers the Saints for The Advocate and NOLA-dot-com, says if you’re planning on going, make your plans now, and plan on arriving a few days earlier, since there will be plenty of events and plenty of opportunities for networking with fellow Saints fans.

Cut 5 (10) “…to that event.”

ESPN College GameDay has decided where they will be for the season opener and that will be Baton Rouge for Lane Kiffin’s debut on September 5^th as the Tigers will host Clemson. Kick-off for that game is at 6:30 and it was also announced the LSU-Ole Miss game two weeks later will also kick-off at 6:30.

Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin is receiving backlash for discussing in an interview with Vanity Fair about the struggles he had recruiting to Ole Miss because of the school’s ties to the Confederacy. Kiffin told On-3 he apologizes to anybody at Ole Miss or in Mississippi if he offended anyone, but it’s a narrative that Ole Miss coaches have been fighting forever.

The man who wrote the article, Chris Smith, was a guest on Tiger Rag Radio last night and said Kiffin knew the statement might strike a nerve, but never asked him to keep quote out of his story…

Cut 18 (28) “…you want to write’

ESPN College Gameday will be on LSU’s campus for Lane Kiffin’s debut in Tiger Stadium on September 5^th when LSU hosts Clemson. GameDay will kick-off its 40^th season and it will be the 500th show. It was also announced the game will kick off at 6:30. Also, the highly anticipated LSU-Ole Miss game on September 19^th will kick off at 6:30.

This morning the NFL will make it official who the Saints will play in the first ever NFL game in Paris. Initial reports had New Orleans playing the Browns but reports last night surfaced that the Pittsburgh Steelers will be the opponent. The game will take place on October 25^th.

Another dominating performance by former LSU star Paul Skenes, who took a no-hitter into the 7^th inning. Skenes went eight innings, allowing just two hits and striking out ten in the Pirates three to one win over the Rockies. Skenes struck out the first six hitters he faced and three times he struck out the side.

_________________________________________________________________

Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin is receiving backlash for discussing in an interview with Vanity Fair about the struggles he had recruiting to Ole Miss because of the school’s ties to the Confederacy. Kiffin told On-3 he apologizes to anybody at Ole Miss or in Mississippi if he offended anyone, but it’s a narrative that Ole Miss coaches have been fighting forever.

The man who wrote the article, Chris Smith, was a guest on Tiger Rag Radio last night and said Kiffin knew the statement might strike a nerve, but never asked him to keep quote out of his story…

Cut 18 (28) “…you want to write’

Lane Kiffin was the biggest story in college football at the end of the 2025 regular season. It makes sense that his first game at LSU will be in the spotlight, as ESPN’s College Football GameDay will broadcast live from Baton Rouge prior to the Tigers’ regular-season opener against Clemson.

When you look at the other games on September 5th, the decision is easy. The preseason polls have yet to come out, but LSU-Clemson is the only game that day that could be a matchup between Top 25 teams. LSU is a 10.5 point favorite to beat Clemson.

Kiffin told ON3 he apologizes to anybody at Ole Miss or in Mississippi if he offended anyone when he told Vanity Fair that out of state Black parents did not want their son to attend Ole Miss because of its history with the Confederate Battle Flag and a mascot named Colonel Reb. Kiffin says it’s a narrative that Ole Miss coaches have been fighting forever.

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey says he continues to support a 16-team College Football playoff, which differs from the Big Ten’s prerogative of a 24-team-playoff. A postseason format for the 2027 season has yet to be decided. Opponents of a 24-team playoff say it makes the regular season less relevant.

For the first time ever, Louisiana will have a recreational alligator hunting season. Joe Gallinaro reports.

Cut 28 (35) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

LSU football coach Lane Kiffin told ON3 he apologizes to anybody at Ole Miss or in Mississippi if he offended anyone when he told Vanity Fair that out of state Black parents did not want their son to attend Ole Miss because of its history tied to the Confederate Battle Flag and a mascot named Colonel Reb. Kiffin says it’s a narrative that coaches have been fighting forever. He added that Ole Miss has been wonderful to him and his family.

The 2026 LSU baseball season will likely end next week with no NCAA Tournament appearance for the first time since 2011. Tiger Rag Editor Glenn Guilbeau says the Tigers pitchers’ have struggled and injuries have also been an issue…

Cut 19 (10) “…with multiple injuries”

The Tigers conclude the regular season with a three game series against Florida that will start on Thursday at Alex Box Stadium.

Governor Landry has signed Senate Bill 244 into law. The legislation makes it legal for Louisiana to hold a recreational alligator hunting season. The bill’s author is Franklin Senator Robert Allain, who notes that Louisiana’s alligator population has now topped three-million, and there are not  enough commercial alligator hunters to get it under control.

Cut 4 (14) “…along the way.”

The Louisiana Wildlife Fisheries Commission will establish how tags will be distributed and when the season will take place.

The 2026 Louisiana black bear hunting season will take place from December 5th to the 20th; and this year, bear hunting will be allowed in all seven of the state’s black bear management areas. LDWF Large Carnivore Program Manager John Hanks says 42 tags will be tentatively issued for the hunt.

Cut 13 (08) “…for a lottery.”

The lottery for the 2026 season will begin in late July.

LSU football coach Lane Kiffin tells Vanity Fair Magazine there were recruits  he couldn’t convince to come to Ole Miss, because their families didn’t want them playing in Oxford because the school used to display the Confederate battle flag at sporting events and had a mascot called Colonel Reb. Kiffin also said the families of players he’s recruiting to LSU like the diversity on the Baton Rouge campus and if feels like there’s no segregation. Vanity Fair has published a big profile article on Kiffin.

The LSU baseball team’s season will likely end sometime next week at the SEC Tournament. Unless the Tigers win the SEC Tourney, they will miss the NCAA Regionals for the first time since 2011. Tiger Rag Editor Glen Guilbeau says coach Jay Johnson will get to work quickly after the season ends.

Cut 12 (08) “…offensive players too.”

Dates are set for the 2026 Black Bear hunting Season. It will run from December fifth to the 20^th. LDWF will issue 42 tags through a lottery and every bear management area will be open for hunting. Louisiana held its first black bear hunting season in more than 35 years in December of 2024. That year, 10 bears were harvested. Sixteen were harvested last year; and John Hanks with LDWF says they’ve decided to open it up even more this year.

Cut 14 (09) “…we’re expanding more.”

The defending NAIA baseball champion LSU Shreveport Pilots won their opening round game in walk-off fashion last night as the postseason started yesterday. The Pilots defeated Oklahoma Wesleyan five to four as the winning run scored from third on strikeout that got away from the catcher.

Louisiana Christian was a winner yesterday, while LSU-A and Loyola of New Orleans lost.

Vanity Fair has a big profile piece on LSU football coach Lane Kiffin. One of the quotes that’s grabbing everyone’s attention is what he said about Oxford, Mississippi. Kiffin said when at Ole Miss recruits would tell him that their grandparents would not allow them to attend Ole Miss, because of the school’s connections to the Confederate flag and the Colonel Rebels.

Kiffin says he does not have that problem at LSU. He says parents of recruits looking at LSU say the campus diversity is great and there are no signs of segregation.

The rookies have joined the veterans as the Saints offseason training program is underway. One of the new additions is sixth round pick and former LSU receiver Barion Brown…

Cut 17 (12) “…aspects of it”

Coach Kellen Moore says they plan to use Brown’s speed as many ways as possible.

Unless LSU baseball does something miraculous in next week’s SEC Tournament, like winning it, the Tigers will miss the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2011. LSU suffered its 18^th SEC loss yesterday, a 12-to-1 defeat to 5^th ranked Georgia. The 18 losses tie a program high that dates back to 1978.

For the first time in school history, Southeastern Louisiana baseball and softball teams won the Southland regular season championship. The baseball team will host the Hammond bracket of the Southland Conference Tournament starting on Thursday and the softball team is headed to the Tuscaloosa Regional in the NCAA Tournament.

Despite winning the Sun Belt regular season title, the ULM softball team is not in the NCAA Tournament. The Warhawks thought their resume was strong enough. It included three wins versuses Top 50 RPI teams and winning seven conference series in a row, including three sweeps.

The 2026 LSU baseball team has made the wrong kind of history. The Tigers suffered their 18^th loss in conference play yesterday, a 12-to-one thrashing by the Georgia Bulldogs, who completed a three-game sweep of the Bayou Bengals. Unless LSU can win the SEC Tournament, which is highly unlikely, LSU will miss the NCAA Baseball Tournament for the first time since 2011.

The Ragin Cajuns improved their NCAA Tournament resume by taking two of three from App State. U-L Lafayette beat the Mountaineers 12 to 3 yesterday as Owen Galt and Lee Amedee each homered. Amedee had four RBIs on the afternoon. The Cajuns RPI is up to 47 and they will host 20^th ranked Coastal Carolina starting on Thursday.

The Southland Conference Tournament is set, and it will begin Thursday with bracket play. Regular season champion Southeastern Louisiana is hosting one of the brackets and the other will be played in Beaumont, Texas. Northwestern State is headed to Beaumont while Nicholls and McNeese meet Thursday in Hammond.

The Saints held a two-day rookie minicamp over the weekend headlined by Arizona State wide receiver and eight overall pick Jordyn Tyson. Tyson missed a third of the games over his college career due to MCL, collarbone and hamstring injuries, so head coach Kellen Moore is excited to get a better look at the newest black and gold playmaker.

Cut 16 (19) “…process for him.”

The NCAA Softball Tournament Bracket has been released. LSU is hosting a regional and will play Akron on Friday at 5:30 PM. Virginia Tech and South Alabama are the other two schools in the Regional.

The Southland is a two-bid league as regular season champion Southeastern is headed to the Tuscaloosa Regional, while McNeese is headed to the College Station Regional.