LSU baseball coach Jay Johnson is reloading after the draft. After losing sluggers Ethan Frey and Jared Jones, the Tigers brought in first baseman Zach Yorke from Grand Canyon University. D1Baseball analyst Kendall Rogers says Yorke’s six-foot-two, 290-pound frame isn’t your typical SEC baseball player, but that doesn’t mean there’s not a spot for him in the league.

Cut 19 (14) “…pure hitters.”

Yorke slugged 13 homers with a .339 batting average in 48 games last season. Johnson also landed commitments from Oregon State third baseman Trent Caraway and Kansas right-hander Cooper Moore.

LSU catcher Luis Hernandez signed a free-agent contract with the Twins. The senior batted .270 in 54 games this season and played a key role in the Tigers’ championship run.

LSU will open SEC play against Florida September 13. There are high expectations for Gators quarterback DJ Lagway entering his second season, despite Florida facing perhaps the toughest schedule in the country. He’s looking forward to the expectations and a Saturday night matchup in Death Valley.

Cut 17 (13)  “…put on a show.”

The Sun Belt welcomed Louisiana Tech to the league at a press conference in Ruston yesterday. With lowered costs and increased revenues from Sun Belt West opponents, President Jim Henderson says the Bulldogs are committed to returning to their athletic pedigree.

Cut 12 (12) “…conference championships.”

The Bulldogs will move to the Sun Belt no later than 2027.

I’m Colleen Crain and this sportscast is brought to you by the Louisiana Department of Health, when gambling is more than a game no one wins…

Louisiana Tech is celebrating its move to the Sun Belt Conference. During a press conference yesterday afternoon, university president Doctor Jim Henderson says it’s a significant day …

Cut 11 (13) “…as whole

It’s unknown when Tech will make the jump from Conference USA to the Sun Belt. Since missing the May 1st deadline to leave Conference USA next season, officials are negotiating a departure date for the 2026 or 2027 football season.

The Southern Jaguars have been picked to win the SWAC western division. Receiver Darren Morris says now they have to show they are number one. Grambling is picked to finish 5^th.

LSU has made some moves in the transfer portal following the MLB Draft. Oregon State third baseman Trent Caraway went undrafted as a top 150 prospect. Kendall Rogers of D1Baseball says Caraway was a big-name recruit who struggled during the regular season.

Cut 18 (16) “…really really good.”

Florida quarterback DJ Lagway stole the show at SEC Media Days yesterday. The sophomore went 6-and-1 as a starter last year. He recalled the Gators’ win over LSU last season in a week he struggled with injury.

Cut 16 (15) “…gonna be fun.”

Head coach Brian Kelly confirmed linebackers Whit Weeks and Harold Perkins would both be ready to return from injury by the start of camp. Perkins will be returning to outside linebacker, where he was First-Team All-SEC and a Freshman All-American in 2022. Weeks says they grew close rehabbing together.

Cut 18 (14) “…for him too.”

Southern was picked to defend its SWAC West title in the conference preseason poll today. Senior defensive end Ckelby Givens was named preseason SWAC Defensive Player of the Year after sharing the award last year. Jaguars head coach Terrence Graves says he spoke to Givens about the accolades.

Cut 21 (10) “…post season.”

LSU landed commitments from Kansas pitcher Cooper Moore, Oregon State third baseman Trent Caraway and Grand Canyon first baseman Zach Yorke. Moore is a sophomore righty who struck out 85 batters with a 3.93 ERA in 14 starts last season. Caraway slugged 12 home runs and 47 RBI, hitting .267 last year. Yorke blasted 13 homers in 48 games for the Lopes.

Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer spoke at SEC Football Media Days today. With quarterback Jalen Milroe off to the NFL, the Crimson Tide have a three-way QB battle among redshirt junior Ty Simpson, redshirt sophomore Austin Mack and freshman Keelon Russell. DeBoer says if the season started today, Simpson would get the nod.

Cut 12 (12) “…another level.”

LSU will travel to Tuscaloosa to take on the Crimson Tide November 8.

LSU will kick off the season at Clemson, which means a high-stakes matchup between top quarterbacks Garrett Nussmeier and Kade Klubnik. Tiger linebacker Whit Weeks says he lives for this kind of big-time game, and he has confidence in Nussmeier.

Cut 16 (18) “…good team.”

The Tigers will take the field in Clemson August 30 at 6:30

Texas quarterback Arch Manning stole the show in Atlanta yesterday. Manning says he and Nussmeier grew close rooming together at the Manning Passing Academy.

Cut 22 (08) “…over there.”

Louisiana Tech and the Sun Belt will hold a press conference this afternoon to discuss the Bulldogs’ return. KNOE-TV Sports Director Aaron Dietrich says Tech has a history of overlooking its in-state rivals.

Cut 5 (14) “…Sun Belt Conference.”

ULM and UL-Lafayette were two of the Bulldogs’ biggest advocates. Dietrich says those officials have moved on, and the new guard is ready to move past old grudges.

LSU received a commitment from Kansas right-handed pitcher Cooper Moore. Moore recorded a 3.96 ERA and 85 strikeouts in 88 and two-thirds innings last year. The Tigers also landed Oregon State infielder Trent Caraway and Grand Canyon first baseman Zach Yorke yesterday.

The Pelicans suffered their third straight Summer League loss to the Trailblazers last night 93-87. Guard Antonio Reeves led the team with 18 points, followed by rookie Derik Queen’s 17 points and 10 boards.

This sportscast is brought to you by the Louisiana Department of Health, when gambling is more than a game no one wins…

It was Arch mania at SEC Media Days on Tuesday afternoon as Arch Manning answered questions from hundreds of reporters. Even though Manning has started just two games for the Texas Longhorns, there’s a belief he will lead the Longhorns to a national championship and he’ll be a Heisman contender. Manning says he’s not sure where people get these opinions…

Cut 27 (04) “…go prove it”

For LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier to lead the Tigers to a national title, he’ll need cut down on the 12 interceptions he threw last year….

Cut 17 (16) “…need to”

Nussmeier says he plans to run the ball more instead of throwing reckless passes this year.

It’s a big day for Louisiana Tech as the Bulldogs will hold a press conference at 3 PM today to discuss joining the Sun Belt. The Bulldogs will owe Conference USA at least five-million dollars to leave the league. They can depart for the Sun Belt as soon as 2026 and were invited to join no later than July of 2027. KNOE-TV Sports Director Aaron Dietrich hopes things will move quickly.

Cut 6 (13) “…would generate?”

Paul Skenes started for the National League last night in the Major League Baseball All-Star game and struck out the first two hitters he faced and then got Aaron Judge to ground out in his only inning of work. The National League ended up winning in the first ever swing off, a mini home run derby, because the game was tied at 6.

LSU baseball players, Chris Stanfield, Zac Cowan and Tanner Reaves all say they are returning next season.

LSU wide receiver Chris Hilton represented the Tigers at SEC Media Days yesterday. Hilton has been plagued by injuries at LSU, but projects to be the Tigers’ top wideout this season. He missed the first seven games of last season and totaled only nine receptions for 243 yards and three touchdowns. Hilton has always been a big play threat, but quarterback Garrett Nussmeier says he’s improved as he’s gotten healthier.

Cut 14 (11) “…season last year.”

Hilton arrived in Baton Rouge the same year as Nussmeier and says he’s seen his quarterback grow off the field.

Cut 18 (13) “…work in.”

LSU center fielder Chris Stanfield announced he’ll be returning for his senior season in Baton Rouge after going undrafted. The Auburn transfer hit .298 with 31 RBI this year.

Former LSU star and Pirates ace Paul Skenes will start for the National League in back-to-back years in tonight’s MLB All-Star game. Skenes is posting a 2.01 ERA with 131 strikeouts through 121 innings for Pittsburgh this season. First pitch is set for 7:00.

LSU Gymnastics star Haleigh Bryant will return to the Tigers as an assistant coach on the 2026 staff, the team announced today. Bryant is one of the most decorated athletes in LSU and N-C-Double-A history. She is a 33-time All-American and led LSU to its first-ever team NCAA title in 2024, earning the individual All-Around title along the way.

Louisiana Tech officially accepted the invitation to the Sun Belt today. The Sun Belt Board of Directors voted unanimously to invite the Bulldogs to the conference as soon as 2026 but no later than 2027. LA Tech will owe at least a $5 million exit fee to leave Conference USA.

Georgia, Auburn, Tennessee and Texas will take the stage at SEC Football Media Days today. Yesterday, Garrett Nussmeier spoke about the expectations for his second year as a starter. He’s the nation’s only returning 4,000-yard passer, but with a year’s worth of film to review, he’s been looking for ways to improve. The gunslinger threw 12 interceptions last year and says he can take better care of the football.

Cut 17 (17)  “…different outcome.”

When it was all said and done, nine tigers were taken in the MLB Draft. Pitcher Zac Cowan announced he will be returning for his senior season in Baton Rouge after going undrafted. The same goes for infielder Tanner Reaves. Center Fielder Chris Stanfield went undrafted but has made no indication whether or not he’ll return for a final season in Baton Rouge.

Tulane right-hander Michael Lombardi was selected 61st overall by the Royals Sunday. Green Wave lefty Tayler Montiel was selected by the Diamondbacks in the 12th round, and infielder Connor Rasmussen went to the Royals in the 15th.

Southeastern catcher Conner O’Neal was picked by the Dodgers in the ninth round, and right-hander Brennan Stuprich went to the Yankees in the 14th.

Louisiana Tech righty reliever Logan Forsythe was picked in the 13th round by the Braves. Forsythe led the Bulldogs with 71 strikeouts and becomes coach Lane Burrough’s 13th drafted player.

Southern outfielder Cardell Thibodeaux was selected by the Padres in the 16th round. Thibodeaux was the SWAC Player of the Year this season and had recently entered the transfer portal.

The Saints released a teaser for what appears to be a new jersey set to be released July 22. New Orleans announced a new white alternate helmet to go with the color rush jersey last week. The teaser video shows defensive end Cam Jordan opening a glowing gold duffel bag with the throwback thin black fleur-de-lis which was used until the 2000s on the side.  Jordan has been a vocal advocate for the return of the 2002 gold jerseys. The new threads will replace the current throwback alternate.

It’s believed that with Garrett Nussmeier returning as starting quarterback, the LSU Tigers will have one of the best offenses in college football. At SEC Media Days, Nussmeier talked about the talent around him…

Cut 16 (19) “…different ways.”

LSU’s first game is August 30^th at Clemson. Linebacker Whit Weeks likes playing one of the best teams in the country to start the season…

Cut 30 (18) “…first week”

Louisiana Tech is Sun Belt-bound after school leaders voted Monday to invite the Bulldogs. Tech replaces Texas State as the Bobcats head to the PAC-12, but Sun Belt East schools preferred expansion into a new market over a third Louisiana program. But Locked On Sun Belt Podcast host Dave Schultz says most of the conference’s recent additions have been in the east.

Cut 19 (13) “…ULM dramatically.”

Louisiana Tech would give the Sun Belt 14 schools. An official announcement from Tech and the Sun Belt is expected in the next day or so.

LSU had five more players selected during the second day of the Major League Baseball Draft. Daniel Dickinson went in the sixth round to the Brewers. The Pittsburgh Pirates picked Jared Jones in the ninth round. Also going in the ninth round, relief pitcher Jacob Mayers to the Red Sox. Monroe native Kade Woods went in the 10^th round to Atlanta and Conner Ware was drafted in the 15^th round by the Mets. Zac Cowan was not drafted so he’ll return for his senior season.

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.