The SEC is suing LSU in a federal court, alleging their recruitment of NFL players violates the conference’s First Amendment right to enforce its own rules. Head coach Lane Kiffin, Athletic Director Verge Ausberry and President Wade Rousse are named as defendants. Tiger Rag editor Glenn Guilbeau thinks the lawsuit against a member school is an overreaction from the SEC, but it would be in LSU’s best interest to cut their losses.

Cut 22 (11) “…boss is wrong.”

The Tigers kick off the season on Saturday against Clemson. LSU tight end Trey’Dez Green scored two touchdowns against Clemson last season and went on to grab 33 catches for 433 yards and seven scores last year. He says he’s ready for a bigger role this season

Cut 18 (12) “…I love ’em.”

ULM opens against Mississippi State on Saturday at 6:30. The Warhawks were last in the Sun Belt West last season, and the conference preseason poll picked them to repeat that finish. Head Coach Bryant Vincent says they don’t pay any attention to that.

Cut 20 (19) “…on campus.”

The Saints waived running back Devin Neal and edge rusher Mike Heldman after both were placed on season-ending injured reserve. Neal was a sixth-round pick out of Kansas last year and ran for 200 yards and two touchdowns as a rookie. A severe hamstring injury killed his promising chances of making this-year’s roster. Heldman signed as an undrafted free agent this year and recorded two sacks in his first preseason game, but was sidelined by an injury in the preseason finale.

The high school football season kicks off tonight with defending state champs Ouachita hosting Byrd, Iowa visiting Barbe and Sterlington heading to Franklin Parish.

Just two more days before 11th-ranked LSU and Clemson face off in Tiger Stadium to kick off the 2026 season. Are the Tigers locked in despite all the courtroom drama surrounding the fifth-year players that LSU is interested in adding to the roster? Linebacker Whit Weeks says it’s not a big deal at all for the players.

Cut 16 (11) “… day of work.”

Southern will look to bounce back from a 30-17 loss to Alabama State in coach Marshall Faulk’s first home game against Kentucky State on Saturday. The Jaguars led 17-13 at halftime, and Faulk says they need to learn how to play with a lead.

Cut 21 (12) “…show ourselves.”

Faulk says he feels more pressure to win as a coach than he did as a player because he cannot affect the game. The Jags did not win at home last season.

ULM begins its football season Saturday at Mississippi State. The Warhawks finished last season last in the Sun Belt West with a 3-and-9 record and lost their last eight games. Head coach Bryant Vincent says playing an SEC team in week one is obviously a big challenge, but he welcomes the early test.

Cut 20 (19) “…never been in.”

Around the rest of the state, LA Tech hosts Northwestern State. UL Lafayette hosts Lamar. Tulane visits Duke. McNeese welcomes Texas Wesleyan, Southeastern visits South Alabama. Nicholls heads to Kansas Sate, and Grambling welcomes Central State.

Tonight is the start of the high school football season; a couple of defending state champs are in action. Ouachita hosts Byrd, and Iowa visits Barbe. Calvary Baptist, who lost in a state title game last year, faces Huntington.

Today is the big court hearing in Baton Rouge where attorneys for 40 plus athletes, some of them looking to play for the LSU football team this season, will argue that they should be granted a fifth year of eligibility, even if they were on NFL rosters. The NCAA and SEC will argue that if you signed a contract with an NFL team or were on a roster, you are not eligible to play in college.

Meanwhile, the LSU football team continues to prepare for Saturday’s season opener against Clemson. Tight end Trey’Dez Green is wearing the number seven jersey as he’s expected to be one of quarterback Sam Leavitt’s favorite targets. Green says he and his Q-B have a great relationship.

Cut 17 (15) “…him my quarterback.”

ULM begins its football season Saturday at Mississippi State. The Warhawks are entering their third season under head coach Bryant Vincent. He says this year’s team has had a great offseason and is the most mature one he has coached in Monroe.

Cut 19 (17) “…are real goals.”

For high school football teams, the goal is to play for a state championship in December. The road to the Dome begins tonight. The LHSAA Network Game of the Week is in Lake Charles tonight, where Iowa, who is coming off the school’s first state championship, will visit the Barbe Bucaneers who have one of the best running backs in the state in Jordin Griffin.

Also, Ouachita Parish, who won the Division one non-select title last year, open the 2026 campaign against Byrd. Calavary Baptist who lost in a state title game last year faces Huntington tonight.

LSU is just two days away from kicking off its football season against Clemson. Arizona State transfer quarterback Sam Leavitt will return to the field after a season-ending Lisfranc surgery last November. He says it was not until the summer offseason workouts that he was a full go.

Cut 20 (16) “…our whole offense.”

Before the Tigers kick off, a preliminary injunction hearing in Baton Rouge tomorrow could decide whether LSU will be allowed to sign fifth-year and former NFL players or if the SEC can enforce its rule punishing schools who do so. One of the attorneys representing the athletes, Tony Clayton, says they deserve the fifth year everyone else got.

Cut 21 (06) “…problem lies.”

Former LSU center Kate Koval announced that her decision to leave the women’s basketball team was because LSU signed Russian forward Anna Minaeva. Koval is a native of Ukraine, and her father is serving in the Ukrainian military. She said in her announcement that Russian attacks have deeply and personally affected her, her family and the place she grew up and that the difficult decision was made to remain true to herself, her values and her country. She said she hopes the NCAA will allow her to play elsewhere this season.

Louisiana Tech opens the season at home Saturday against a Northwestern State team coming off an upset loss to Louisiana Christian. The Bulldogs’ defense is led by graduate linebacker Kolbe Fields, who returns after a season-ending knee injury. Fields says the team has the best linebacker corps in the Sun Belt.

Cut 22 (17) “…gonna show.”

New LSU starting quarterback Sam Leavitt makes his Tiger Stadium debut on Saturday night when the 13th ranked Tigers host 23rd ranked Clemson. When Leavitt played at Arizona State last season, the Sun Devils averaged 54-thousand fans for their home games. The crowd for Saturday night’s game will be nearly twice that, and he’s fired up for it…

Cut 18 (18) “…focus up.”

Leavitt says he’s as healthy as ever and the mental side of his game has only improved since coming to LSU.

Three LSU baseball players were ranked in D1-Baseball’s top 50 transfer pitchers for the 2027 season. Gonzaga right-hander Landon Hood ranked number-2, USC righty Diego Velazquez was 14th and South Florida junior right-hander Kaden Smith was 46th.

Louisiana Tech opens the football season against Northwestern State Saturday. The Bulldogs returned graduate linebacker Kolbe Fields. Fields was the preseason CUSA Defensive Player of the Year last season and dominated through the first five games before a season-ending knee injury. He says he’s had opportunities to go to other schools, but he isn’t interested in a one-year deal, and nothing can replace the relationships he’s built in three years in Ruston.

Cut 17 (15) “…get older.”

Kickoff in Ruston is at 6:30.

UL Lafayette kicks off against Lamar Saturday at 7. Cajuns coach Michael Desormeaux says his team could be dominant on one side of the ball this season.

Cut 21 (13) “…head coach.”

LSU starting quarterback Sam Leavitt will return to the football field on Saturday night for the first time since October when a foot injury forced him to miss the rest of the 2025 campaign. Leavitt says he’s 100 percent and he’s feeling good mentally heading into the season opener against Clemson…

Cut 19 (17) “…keep growing and growing”

Leavitt also says the players support LSU’s effort to add fifth-year players to the program, even with the season starting this week.

There were several Saints players back at practice yesterday that had missed some time. That group included cornerback Quincy Riley, right guard Cesar Ruiz, linebacker Chris Rumph and defensive tackle John Ridgeway. But running back Kendre Miller left yesterday’s practice with an unknown injury.

Louisiana Tech opens the season at home against Northwestern State on Saturday. Tight end Eli Finley is back for his senior season with the Bulldogs after leading the team with 38 catches for 444 yards last year. He says he expects their offense to be exciting this year.

Cut 16 (20) “…no matter what.”

The Demons are trying to recover from its upset loss to NAIA school Louisiana Christian. Northwestern Coach Blaine McCorkle’s team failed to get a win last week despite having a two touchdown lead…

Cut 26 (14) “…good things”

Kick off on Saturday is at 6:30.

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney named senior quarterback Christopher Vizzina the starting quarterback against LSU on Saturday. It will be only his second college start after sitting three seasons as a backup behind Cade Klubnik. LSU linebacker Whit Weeks is expecting him to be greeted by a juiced Tiger Stadium crowd.

Cut 21 (11) “…be incredible.”

Swinney also commented on LSU’s commitments from former NFL players Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris. He said he hasn’t lost any sleep preparing for whether or not they’ll be on the field Saturday, but the legal back-and-forth among the players, SEC and NCAA reflects the current state of college football.

Cut 9 (07)  “…college football.”

Saints cornerback Quincy Riley returned to practice today after being sidelined for the last two weeks with a groin injury. Right guard Cesar Ruiz, linebacker Chris Rumph and D-lineman John Ridgeway also returned from injury. Defensive end Cameron Jordan is still out with a hamstring injury, but defensive coordinator Brandon Staley says he is recovering quickly.

Cut 22 (19) “…been with him.”

Running back Kendre Miller left practice early with an athletic trainer. Alvin Kamara and Audric Estime were both absent.

Ruston was ranked as the number one high school football team in Class 5A by the LSWA ahead of back-to-back D-1 Select State Champs Edna Karr. Neville topped the 4A rankings, U High was first in3A, Dunham in 2A and Haynesville in 1A.

LSU coach Lane Kiffin says former Ole Miss and NFL tight end Dae’Quan Wright and ex-Notre Dame defensive end Junior Tuihalamaka are now practicing with the team. Both are awaiting a preliminary injunction hearing seeking a fifth season of eligibility Thursday. Some have questioned whether adding players so close to the season opener could create chaos. Kiffin says a little internal chaos is okay.

Cut 19 (17) “…don’t understand it.”

Legendary LSU football player and coach Jerry Stovall died at the age of 85 yesterday. “Mr. Everything” was a two-time All-SEC and All-America selection as a player and led the Tigers from 1980 to 1983 as the head coach. He was also Louisiana Tech’s athletic director from 1990 to 1993 and served as President and CEO of the Baton Rouge Area Sports Foundation

The Saints have cut down to a 53-man roster. Two-time All-Pro kicker Daniel Carlson made the team after spending less than one week of training camp in New Orleans. The nine-year vet signed last week and made two field goals and an extra point in the preseason finale versus the Cowboys, including a 53-yarder. Head coach Kellen Moore says he earned his spot.

Cut 17 (12) “…in this league (2x).”

Charlie Smyth is staying on the team’s practice squad.

Louisiana Tech kicks off the season against Northwestern State Saturday. Quarterback Blake Baker returns from an ACL injury, and head coach Sonny Cumbie says he wants to see him comfortably make routine throws.

Cut 21 (13) “…football team.”

LSU football coach Lane Kiffin says he spoke with the leaders of his team before deciding to pursue former NFL players seeking a return to college for a fifth season of eligibility. Kiffin admitted Monday that he struggled with the decision and wanted to do what was in the best interest of his players….

Cut 18 (13) “…win, bring em”

Kiffin says former Ole Miss tight end Dae’Quan Wright is now practicing with LSU. Wright spent time in training camp with the Cleveland Browns before he was released on August 22nd. A court hearing on Thursday will go a long way to determining if he can play in the season opener against Clemson.

Defensive end Jack Pyburn will not rejoin the Tigers. After his release from Tampa Bay, he was added to the Kansas City Chiefs roster.

_____________________________________________

NFL rosters are down to 53 players as we move closer to the start of the regular season. The Saints decided to keep both backup quarterbacks, Spencer Rattler and Zach Wilson on the active roster. Head coach Kellen Moore says they are both Q-B-two level players.

Cut 16 (09) “…really good QBs.”

New Orleans has not named which one will be the immediate back-up to Tyler Shough.

McNeese coach Matt Viator says starting quarterback Jake Strong is day-to-day after leaving Saturday’s loss to Stephen F Austin with a shoulder injury. Viator it’s too early to say if Strong will be available for this Saturday’s home game against Texas Wesleyan.

ULM will be facing one of the most athletic quarterbacks in the SEC on Saturday. Coach Bryant Vincent says they got to keep Kamario Taylor in the pocket and get him down when he does run.

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.