6:45 LRN Sportscast

Ole Miss’ Lane Kiffin is LSU and Florida’s top targets in their head coaching searches. Rebels fans are on edge, but Kiffin says being pursued by other programs speaks volumes for what’s happening at Ole Miss.

Cut 16 (19) “…from that perspective.”

Kiffin spoke on Wednesday on the SEC Football Coaches’ weekly teleconference. He was asked multiple times about his coaching future and the rumors about his potential departure from Oxford. Kiffin said several times he does not talk about other coaching jobs.

In basketball…Derik Queen had 30 points, but the Pelicans lost again to the Nuggets 125 to 118. La Tech fell at Indiana State 60-51.

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The Ragins Cajuns football team is at Arkansas State tonight. U-L Lafayette is without seven players, six on the defensive side, as they are serving suspensions for the postgame scuffle that took place with Texas State. Coach Michael Desormeaux’s secondary is depleted so the defensive line needs to get after the quarterback….

Cut 19 (10) “….quite a bit”

Also tonight, Nicholls is at Southeastern Louisiana and Northwestern State hosts Stephen F Austin.

The second round of the high school football playoffs is tomorrow night. The LHSAA Network Game of the Week is St. Paul’s at Evangel. Spencer Verrett wonders if the Wolves can slow down the Eagles’ high-flying offense…

Cut 13 (13) “…explosive offense”

11:40 LRN Sportscast

The college football world is waiting to see what Ole Miss football coach Lane Kiffin will do. Will he stay at Ole Miss, leave for Florida or be hired as the next head coach at LSU. Kiffin’s ex-wife visited both Baton Rouge and Gainesville this week. Michael Katz of the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal says Kiffin faced a similar decision  three years ago as he was courted by Auburn, and he won’t be hasty to make a decision.

Cut 12 (11) “…bitten him.”

LSU hosts Western Kentucky in the final home game of the season on Saturday. Interim head coach Frank Wilson said quarterback Garrett Nussmeier is doubtful, while linebacker Whit Weeks has a chance to play.

The Saints and receiver Brandin Cooks have parted ways and ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports New Orleans is working on a deal to host a home game in Paris, France next year.

 

ULM football has lost six straight games as the Warhawks enter the last two weeks of the season. Head coach Bryant Vincent wants his team to keep fighting and believes they will persevere.

Cut 19 (15) “…the only way.”

The Warhawks are on the road Saturday as they face Texas State at 4 p.m.

After dropping a close game to Nicholls this past Saturday, Northwestern State has a quick turnaround as the 1-and-10 Demons will face Stephen F. Austin tomorrow night. Coach Blaine McCorkle says, despite ten straight losses, he likes the fight his young team is showing.

Cut 20 (10) “…proud of them.”

Kickoff in Turpin Stadium tomorrow night is 6:30 p.m.

6:45 LRN Sportscast

The college football world is waiting for an answer from Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin as LSU, Florida and others try to tempt him away from Oxford in the midst of a 10-and-1 campaign with the Rebels. Michael Katz of the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal says there’s a lot of confusion around Kiffin’s future.

Cut 10 (08) “…another direction.”

Kiffin was a guest on the Pat McAfee show yesterday and said it’s completely false that Ole Miss administrators have asked him to decide by next Friday on where he’ll coach next season.

LSU quarterback Michael Van Buren told reporters last night that he wants to remain an LSU Tiger and play for the new coach. Van Buren is the likely starter at quarterback this Saturday against Western Kentucky.

In basketball…LSU defeated Alcorn State 107 to 81 last night. Michael Nwoko (nuh-WOE-koe) had 29 points and nine rebounds in 20 minutes of work.

 

The Saints look to win two straight as they host the Falcons this Sunday. Starting quarterback Tyler Shough is coming off his first career win, and head coach Kellen Moore says the rookie is operating at a high level.

Cut 16 (17) “…created some points.”

The Falcons are expected to start Kirk Cousins at quarterback as Michael Penix could miss the rest of the season with a knee injury.

After dropping a close game to Nicholls this past Saturday, Northwestern State has a quick turnaround as the 1-and-10 Demons will face Stephen F. Austin tomorrow night. Coach Blaine McCorkle says, despite ten straight losses, he likes the fight his young team is showing.

Cut 20 (10) “…proud of them.”

Kickoff in Turpin Stadium tomorrow night is 6:30 p.m.

11:40 LRN Sportscast

Multiple reports say LSU has zeroed in on Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin as its next head football coach. On Monday, sources say LSU sent a private plane to Oxford, Mississippi, and flew several members of Kiffin’s family down to Baton Rouge so that his ex-wife, Layla Kiffin, can tour the city.

There are reports that Ole Miss has given Kiffin a deadline of November 28th to make a decision about his future. The Rebels have offered a contract extension to Kiffin, who has yet to agree to it. Florida is also courting Kiffin.

Wilson Alexander covers LSU football for the Advocate and says it’s possible Kiffin could leave Ole Miss before the Rebels begin their run through the College Football playoffs…

Cut 11 (13) “…other jobs”

Ole Miss is 10-1 on the season and have an open date this Saturday before they play the Egg Bowl against Mississippi State on November 29th.

 

The LSU football team is getting ready to play Western Kentucky and interim head coach Frank Wilson said it’s too early in the week to tell if Garrett Nussmeier will be able to play this Saturday. Nussmeier missed the win over Arkansas because he re-aggravated his ab injury and Michael Van Buren made his first start in a Tiger uniform. Van Buren threw for 221 yards and a touchdown against the Razorbacks. Wilson says they kept the game plan simple for the sophomore, but it took him a while to settle into his first start.

Cut 17 (16)  “…that he did.”

The fifth ranked LSU women’s basketball team defeated Tulane 101 to 71 last night to improve to 5-0 on the season.

The Pelicans lost to the Thunder 126 to 109 last night.

LSU men’s basketball hosts Alcorn State tonight. The Cajuns are at Stanford, Northwestern State visits San Francisco, Grambling is at San Diego and Southern faces Washington in Seattle.

6:45 LRN Sportscast

Speculation Lane Kiffin could leave Ole Miss for LSU or Florida has ramped up after members of Kiffin’s family visited Baton Rouge. Andrew Greenstein has more…

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein”

The fifth-ranked LSU women’s basketball team broke the century mark for the fifth time last night to improve to 5-and-0 on the season. The Lady Tigers trounced Tulane 101-71. Flau’jae Johnson had 22 points.

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A former UNO basketball player owns up to his mistake. Dae Dae Hunter appeared on ABC’s Good Morning America and admitted to his role in a point-shaving scandal. The NCAA has permanently banned all three players. Hunter admitted he was in on it.

Cut 13 (08)  “…miss a couple.”

Hunter told Good Morning America that he did it so that he could get money to care for his newborn child.

LSU freshman running back Harlem Berry is showing flashes of becoming a really good player. Interim head coach Frank Wilson says it takes time for freshmen to shine…

Cut 18 (18) “…bear itself”

Wilson doesn’t know if quarterback Garrett Nussmeier will star this Saturday against Western Kentucky.

4:45 LRN Sportscast

Although Stephen F Austin claimed a Southland Conference title on Saturday, the Southeastern Lions are still in the hunt for an FCS playoff spot after their 10-7 win over Incarnate Word. Coach Frank Scelfo says it was a great way to bounce back after a disappointing loss to Lamar.

Cut 17 (19)  “…we did.”

The 8-and-3 Lions will host Nicholls in the River Bell Classic Thursday. The Colonels won their final home game of the season over Northwestern State Saturday behind running back Shane Lee’s career-high 134 rushing yards. First-year head coach Tommy Rybacki says they found a way to win.

Cut 20 (17) “…the season.”

ULM suffered its sixth straight loss Saturday after blowing an early 14-nothing lead over South Alabama. After a 3-and-1 start, Warhawks coach Bryant Vincent says they keep beating themselves.

Cut 19 (17) “…fourth down.”

The Warhawks will visit Texas St for their final Sun Belt clash Saturday.

The fifth-ranked LSU women’s basketball team will head to New Orleans tonight to take on Tulane at 6:00. The Green Wave have started 2-and-1 on the season, with their lone loss coming by just eight against Missouri. The Lady Tigers will look to continue their undefeated 4-and-0 start.

The Pelicans will host the defending champion Thunder tonight at 7:00. Interim Head Coach James Borrego will look to earn his first win leading the Pels after losing his debut 124-106 against the Warriors last night.

6:45 LRN Sportscast

Frank Wilson became the first black coach to lead LSU football to a victory and Michael Van Buren won his first SEC start after going 0-and-7 for Mississippi State last season. The Tigers defeated Arkansas 23-22 on Saturday. Van Buren shook off a slow start to throw for 221 yards and a touchdown. Wilson says Van Buren got more confident as the game went on.

Cut 15 (13) “…times as well.”

It’s unknown if Garrett Nussmeier will be able to play this Saturday in the home finale against Western Kentucky.

New coach, same result. Saturday morning, the Pelicans fired Head Coach Willie Green after the team lost ten of their first 12 games, many by lopsided scores. In the first game under interim coach James Borrego last night, the Pelicans fell to the Golden State Warriors, 124-106.

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Louisiana Tech had just 167 yards of offense in a 28-3 loss to Washington State on Saturday. Coach Sonny Cumbie’s team still needs one more win to become bowl eligible and they’ll try to get that victory this Saturday at home against Liberty…

Cut 18 (21) “…next week”

ULM lost its sixth straight as the Warhawks fell to South Alabama 26-14.

Northwestern State lost its tenth straight as the Demons gave up a touchdown in the fourth quarter and lost to Nicholls 26-21.

McNeese gave up two touchdowns in the fourth quarter and lost to UTRGV 28-13. And despite finishing with an 8-3 record, Louisiana Christian did not get into the NAIA playoffs.

4:45 LRN Sportscast

LSU interim head football coach Frank Wilson says quarterback Garrett Nussmeier has re-aggravated an abdominal injury he sustained in preseason camp, but he’s still expected to start against Arkansas tomorrow. Nussmeier is listed as probable, but Wilson says if Nussmeier’s injury is more problematic than what they thought, Michael Van Buren will make his first start in a Tiger uniform…

Cut 12 (11) “…his progress.”

Tomorrow is the final home game of the season for the ULM Warhawks as they will take on South Alabama. Warhawks Coach Bryant Vincent…

Cut 14 (06) “…where we’re at”

The Warhawks will try to snap a five game losing streak, while South Alabama is 2-7. Kick off is at 2:30.

Grambling State has won four in a row; and last week, fourth string and freshman quarterback Hayden Benoit stepped up for the Tigers, throwing for 220 yards and four touchdowns in a win over Bethune-Cookman. Head coach Mickey Joseph had lots of praise for the freshman out of Loreauville.

Cut 20 (19) “…just didn’t blink.”

Grambling is at Alcorn State at two tomorrow afternoon.

The high school football playoffs begin in earnest tonight. St. Charles Catholic is the top seed in the Division Two Select bracket. Spencer Verrett with the LHSAA Network says he likes the Comets to make it to at least the semifinals, but he says to watch out for the number-two Loyola Prep Flyers.

Cut 17 (14)  “…good Flyers team.”

11:40 LRN Sportscast

LSU interim head football coach Frank Wilson says quarterback Garrett Nussmeier has re-aggravated his ab injury that slowed him down earlier this season, but he’s still expected to start against Arkansas tomorrow. Tomorrow’s game could be high scoring. The Razorbacks have one of the worst defenses in college football, but Arkansas quarterback Taylan Green leads the country in total offense, averaging 335 yards a game through the air and on the ground. Wilson on tomorrow’s matchup with the 2-and-7 Hogs…

Cut 13 (10) “…they can score”

In other action on Saturday, Louisiana Tech is at Washington State, ULM hosts South Alabama, Southeastern Louisiana is at Incarnate Word, Nicholls hosts Northwestern State, McNeese takes on U-T-R-G-V in its home finale, Grambling is at Alcon and Louisiana Christian is at 11th ranked Ottawa University in Arizona and a win for the Wildcats they can clinch a share of the SAC Championships.

 

The high school football playoffs kicked off last night and St. Mary’s went down to south Louisiana and defeated St. John’s of Plaquemine 30-14. Bonnabel beat Riverdale 28-14. The Bruins are led by former LSU Tiger Andre Anthony and it is their first playoff win since 1997.

Plenty more high school playoff games tonight and Andre Champagne has this preview of the select side of the bracket…

Cut 30 (32) “…I’m Andre Champagne

6:45 LRN Sportscast

LSU interim head football coach Frank Wilson says quarterback Garrett Nussmeier re-aggravated his ab injury, but he’s still expected to start at Arkansas. Nussmeier is listed as probable on the availability report released last night. Wilson says they also plan to play backup Michael Van Buren again…

Cut 26 (16) “…proper place”

LSU linebacker Whit Weeks, who has missed the last three games with a bone bruise on his ankle, is listed as questionable.

The LSU men’s basketball team had five players score in double figures last night and defeated F-I-U 98-81. Marquel Sutton had a double-double with 19 points and 12 rebounds. Michael Nwoko (nuh-WOE-koe) also had 19 points.

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The first round of the high school football playoffs begins in earnest tonight; and today, we are previewing the select side of the bracket. Spencer Verrett with the LHSAA Network says Edna Karr is the favorite to repeat as Division One select champs, but a few of their Catholic League rivals might have a chance at upsetting the Cougars.

Cut 16 (14) “…St. Augustine gets there.

Final home games of the season tomorrow for ULM, McNeese and Nicholls. The Colonels take on Northwestern State at 3 PM. Nicholls Coach Tommy Rybacki on H-TV…

Cut 19 (14) “…important to us”

The Demons have lost nine in a row.