This Saturday, 11^th ranked LSU hosts the McNeese Cowboys, an FCS team that the Tigers should be able to handle rather easily. But linebacker Davhon (Day-von) Keys says they are keeping the same mindset that they had last week when they faced Texas A&M.

Cut 17 (12) “…make a difference.”

McNeese is coming off a much needed win in Southland play, where they held on to beat East Texas A-and-M. Cowboys coach Matt Viator on their  mindset as they prepare to face one of the best teams in the nation…

Cut 29 (12) “…left”

Kick-off is at 6:45.

The Giants have released receiver Odell Beckham Junior after three games where he didn’t catch a pass.

______________________________________________

After falling to FAU 53-17 last Saturday, ULM has now lost 12 games in a row heading into Saturday’s game at South Alabama. Head coach Bryant Vincent likes how senior quarterback Aidan Armenta against the Owls…

Cut 19 (16) “…to make plays.”

Armenta was the starter coming into the season but was benched for Austin Carlisle, who missed Saturday’s game with an injury. Vincent says he would like to be able to play both quarterbacks.

In the high school football, Edna Karr is ranked number one in Class 5A after its shutout win over Holy Cross. Ruston is ranked second, St. Aug is ranked third.

Alexandria Senior High has fallen to seventh after losing to Neville. St. Thomas More has entered the Top 10 as Cougars are ranked eight after beating 9^th ranked Acadiana. West Monroe is ranked 10^th after a double overtime victory over Central.

Weeks broke his leg in the 35-6 win over Texas A&M. Coach Lane Kiffin says he will miss a lot of time after undergoing surgery yesterday. He says it is a devastating blow for the defense and for Weeks, who chose to return for his senior season instead of going to the NFL draft.

Cut 17 (13) “…rolling into you.”

Junior Davhon Keys will be the starter next to TJ Dottery with Weeks out. Keys came into the game against the Aggies and helped make a stop on fourth-and-one. He says he had to stay ready to back up his teammate.

Cut 20 (15) “…ride for him.”

The Protect College Sports Act is headed to the House after passing through the Senate yesterday. The bill gives antitrust protection to the NCAA, caps conference membership at 20 schools, helps regulate N-I-L and revenue-sharing and ends unlimited transfers for athletes. Opponents of the act argue that it unfairly limits the earning potential of athletes without the same limits on coaches or schools’ revenue.

The Saints will look to bounce back from a disappointing 35-27 loss to the Raiders in their first divisional game versus the Falcons on Monday. New Orleans blew an 11-point second-half lead versus the Raiders with four fourth-quarter turnovers. Tight end Juwan Johnson says that has to change.

Cut 21 (12) “…or you learn.”

The Saints and Falcons kick off on Monday at 7:15 in an anniversary game for the 2006 Domecoming, celebrating 20 years since Steve Gleason’s iconic blocked punt.

LSU linebacker Whit Weeks underwent successful surgery on his fractured leg yesterday and is expected to be sidelined at least six weeks. The Tigers will turn to junior Davhon Keys at linebacker. Coach Lane Kiffin says he will need to do that again this year.

Cut 18 (15) “…to step up.”

The Senate voted 77-22 to pass the Protect College Sports Act, so the bill will now head to the House. The act provides N-I-L guardrails, limits athletes to just one transfer without having to sit out a season, and gives the NCAA antitrust protection to enforce rules. Louisiana senator John Kennedy voted in favor of it but says it favors the universities.

Cut 8 (10) “…athletes can make.”

The Saints yet again found themselves on the wrong end of controversial officiating during their 35-27 loss to the Raiders on Sunday. In a play that reminded many fans of New Orleans’ reversed forced fumble against the Lions, quarterback Tyler Shough was strip-sacked on a crucial third down, and the Raiders took the lead after the turnover. Shough says he disagreed with the decision to let the call stand.

Cut 19 (12) “…get it done.”

The Pelicans are a week away from tipping off the preseason under new head coach Jahmal Mosley. Star forward Zion Williamson says he is not where he wants to be in his NBA career, but he emphasized expanding his shot selection this summer.

Cut 22 (16) “…going in.”

The LSU football team has suffered significant injuries to starters Whit Weeks, Dashawn Spears and Trey’Dez Green. Coach Lane Kiffin says they are especially impactful now that rosters are less deep thanks to the transfer portal. He says he is considering not playing some starters when LSU takes on McNeese on Saturday.

Cut 16 (12) “…of what’s happened.”

Quarterback Sam Leavitt has a hamstring injury and Kiffin would confirm whether he’ll play against McNeese. Kiffin would not say if linebacker Whit Week’s broken leg is a season ending injury.

Former Cecilia star and Ragin Cajuns sophomore defensive back Brent Gordon Junior was named Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Week. Gordon had seven tackles, an interception, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in a 34-7 win over Charlotte. The Cajuns host Arkansas State this Saturday night.

A couple of big calls did not go the Saints way in their 35-27 loss to the  Ravens. One of them was a roughing the passer penalty against linebacker Danny Stutsman. Watching the replay, it’s hard to say what Stutsman could have done differently when he took Cousins to the ground after he delivered a pass. Stutsman says the flag lines up with others around the league…

Cut 20 (12) “….make those calls”

Saints receiver Chris Olave has been named a Guardian Signature Athlete in a partnership with the company behind the Guardian Cap. As part of the new partnership, Olave will have the chance to donate Guardian caps and chin straps to his former high school, as well as to high school teams in the New Orleans area

Cut 15 (11) “…effect is magical.”

LSU senior linebacker Whit Weeks broke his leg during the Tigers’ 35-6 domination of Texas A&M, and head coach Lane Kiffin did not have an update on his return after he underwent surgery. But Kiffin says he will miss a lot of time, if not the rest of the season. It is a major loss for a defense that already lost starting defensive back Dashawn Spears to a season-ending injury. Star tight end Trey’Dez Green is also sidelined for significant time. Kiffin says the injuries are piling up.

Cut 9 (07)  “…step up.”

Wide receiver Jackson Harris did. He set a career high with 163 receiving yards and scored two touchdowns. On defense, D-tackle Deuce Geralds was named SEC Freshman of the Week after sacking Marcel Reed twice.

After unlikely fourth-quarter comebacks in the first two games, the Saints got a taste of their own medicine in a 35-27 loss to the Raiders. New Orleans gave up 13 points and turned the ball over four times in the final quarter to fall to 1-and-2. The black and gold will host the Falcons on Monday night next week.

UL Lafayette defensive back Brent Gordon Jr. was named the Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Week. The sophomore racked up seven tackles, a TFL, two pass breakups, an interception, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in the Cajuns’ 34-7 win over Charlotte.

McNeese linebacker Landon Barrett as the Southland Conference defender of the week.  He made his first career interception and tallied a season-high 11 tackles in the Cowboys’ 27-24 win over East Texas A&M.

Northwestern State lost its 16th in a row on Saturday, falling to Southeastern Louisiana 52-21. Even though the losses keep coming, Demons coach Blaine McCorkle believes the program is heading in the right direction.

Cut 19 (12) “…every single day.”

ULM dropped its 12th straight game with a 45-17 loss to FAU.

Tulane notched its second win against the Sun Belt this season with a 24-21 comeback victory against Southern Miss.

LSU got back in the win column, cruising past Texas A-and-M, 35-6. Head Coach Lane Kiffin was especially pleased with how his team dominated on both sides of the ball, outgaining A-and-M 506 yards to 197.

Cut 13 (08)  “…prepared really well.”

The Tigers improve to 3-and-1 and will host McNeese in their final non-conference game Saturday. The Cowboys earned their second win of the season with a 27-24 result over East Texas A&M.

Southern lost to Jackson State 35-17 as the Jaguars’ losing streak against Jackson State extends to eight games, the longest in the history of the Boombox Classic. Head coach Marshall Faulk says the Jags did not play to their standard.

Cut 21 (11) “…are right now.”

Southern hosts Arkansas Pine-Bluff on Saturday.

The Saints fell to 1-and-2 after a disappointing 35-27 loss to the Raiders in a game that New Orleans led by 11 points in the third quarter. Coach Kellen Moore wishes they could have won the home opener for Who Dat Nation…

Cut 17 (16) “…it done together.”

Southeastern Louisiana beat Northwestern State 52-21 for a 16^th straight W against the Demons. The Lions led 31-14 at halftime after scoring on five of their six possessions. Head coach Frank Scelfo still says it was a sloppy first half, but they cleaned up those mistakes…

Cut 20 (15) “…second half.”

The Saints let one get away yesterday: up by 11 in the third quarter, they turned it over four times in the fourth quarter and lost to the Las Vegas Raiders 35 to 27. New Orleans quarterback Tyler Shough threw four touchdown passes, but also turned it over three times…

Cut 16 (12) “…with all of us.”

How about that LSU defense? They made Texas A-and-M look bad on Saturday night, holding Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed to 106 passing yards and minus 13 yards rushing. Safety Ty Benefield…

Cut 15 (14) “…a lot easier’

But the LSU defense will be without linebacker Whit Weeks for possibly the rest of the season with a broken leg.

The Ragin Cajuns defense looked good again on Saturday as U-L Lafayette held Charlotte to 137 yards in a 34-to-7 win. Brent Gordon had a huge game had an interception, forced two fumbles and recovered one. Lunch Winfield was 19 for 26 for 149 yards and a touchdown.

ULM lost its 12th straight game, falling to Florida Atlantic 45 to 17.

Northwestern State lost its 16^th straight as Southeastern Louisiana defeated the Demons 52 to 21. Lions coach Frank Scelfo says it was a sloppy first half, but they cleaned up those mistakes…

Cut 20 (15) “…second half.”

Nicholls, Southern and Grambling lost, Tulane rallied to beat Southern Miss 21 to 14, and McNeese beat East Texas A-and-M 27 to 24. The Cowboys travel to Tiger Stadium to play LSU this Saturday night. Former Acadiana star Omiri Wiggins had 116 yards rushing.

LSU hosts Texas A&M tomorrow night as the Tigers look to bounce back from a loss to Ole Miss last week. The Tigers’ offense struggled on the road as the Rebels’ pass rush disrupted the passing game. Coach Lane Kiffin said on his LSU Radio coaches show that needs to be fixed.

Cut 12 (14) “…our offense.”

Southern kicks off SWAC play tomorrow at 6:00 with a road trip to Jackson State. The Tigers are 3-and-0 to start the season. Grambling will also have a tough matchup as they head to Dallas to face defending conference champion Prairie View A&M in the State Fair Classic.

In the Sun Belt, UL Lafayette is visiting winless Charlotte at 5:30. ULM hosts FAU in its homecoming game as the Warhawks search for their first win. Kickoff in Monroe is at 7:00.

And in the Southland, Nicholls hosts Lamar at 3:00, and Southeastern Louisiana visits Northwestern State and McNeese welcomes East Texas A&M at 6:00.

The Saints host the Raiders for their home opener on Sunday. The Raiders are 2-and-0 under first-year head coach Klint Kubiak and veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins. Saints defensive coordinator Brandon Staley says Cousins has made a big difference on a team that had the worst record in the NFL last season.

Cut 20 (18) “…the right way.”

Wide receiver Barion Brown has been ruled out with a hamstring injury, and defensive tackle Christen Miller is also out a second straight week with a toe injury. Raiders tight end Brock Bowers is questionable.

An LSU icon passed away this week. Basketball Legend Bob Pettit died at the age of 93. He led the SEC in scoring while at LSU and led the Tigers to their first Final Four. In the NBA, he was an 11-time All-Star and two-time MVP.

LSU basketball legend Bob Pettit passed away at the age of 93 on Wednesday. Pettit led the SEC in scoring all three seasons at LSU and became just the second major college player ever to average over 30 points per game in a season. He led LSU to its first Final Four in 1953, and LSU basketball SID Kent Lowe says Pettit will never be forgotten.

Cut 4 (13) “…of the program.”

Tenth-ranked LSU and 23rd-ranked Texas A-and-M face off in Tiger Stadium tomorrow night. Both find themselves 0-and-1 to start SEC play after losses last week, so there is a lot of pressure to get a win and keep their College Football Playoff hopes alive. LSU safety Ty Benfield says none of that matters on the field.

Cut 18 (08) “…Aggies right now.”

Former LSU Heisman winner Jayden Daniels will not be placed on injured reserve after dislocating his left elbow against the Cowboys last week. ESPN reports he is considered week-to-week, and he will try to return as soon as possible.

UL Lafayette visits Charlotte tomorrow. The 49ers are 0-and-3 on the season, coming off a close loss to Appalachian State last week. Cajuns head coach Michael Desormeaux says they have a good defense and an experienced offensive line, but this is a massive opportunity for the Cajuns.

Cut 17 (15) “…moving forward.”

ULM looks for its first win as the Warhawks host F-A-U for homecoming.

SWAC play starts tomorrow, Southern hit the road hoping to break Jackson State’s seven-game win streak against them. Grambling will take on defending conference champion Prairie View A-and-M in the State Fair Classic in Dallas.

In the Southland, Nicholls hosts Lamar, Southeastern Louisiana visits Northwestern State and McNeese welcomes East Texas A&M.

LSU has lost another one of its sports icons as legendary basketball player Bob Petit has died at the age of 93. Petit was a consensus All-American for the Tigers leading LSU to conference titles in 1953 and 1954 and an appearance in the 1953 Final Four. He also had a Hall of Fame career in the NBA, winning the MVP award twice and leading the St. Louis Hawks to the 1958 championship.

Big game in Tiger Stadium tomorrow night as 10^th ranked LSU hosts 23^rd ranked Texas A-and-M. LSU is coming off a loss to a very good Ole Miss team and now faces another team that was in the college football playoffs last year. Tigers Safety Ty Benefield wouldn’t want it any other way…

Cut 19 (15) “…line up against”

UL Lafayette visits Charlotte tomorrow. The Cajuns are coming off a 21-14 win over UAB, but the offense struggled and was scoreless in the second half. Head coach Michael Desormeaux says some of his best teams had ugly wins early in the season.

Cut 16 (16) “…in the end.”

U-L Lafayette is 2-1 on the season, while Charlotte is 0-3.

ULM looks for its first win as the Warhawks host F-A-U for homecoming.

SWAC plays starts tomorrow, Grambling battles defending conference champion Prarie View A-and-M in the State Fair Classic in Dallas. Southern visits Jackson State.

In the Southland…Nicholls hosts Lamar, Southeastern is at Northwestern Sate and McNeese hosts Texas A-and-M Corpus Christi.

In the NFL, the Saints host the Raiders on Sunday, last night Atlanta pounded Green Bay 35-14 for its first win.