Bad injury news for the Saints today as wide receiver Michael Thomas announces on Twitter he’ll miss the rest of the season as he’s had a setback in his effort to return from ankle surgery in June. Coach Sean Payton says the setback is surgically related and not because Thomas has not been doing his rehab.

The Saints miss Thomas. From 2016 to 2019 he was one of the top receivers in the NFL. He originally suffered the ankle injury in 2020 and elected to have surgery last June. Payton says they have other players who can step up…
cut 11 (12) “..Tre Quan’s back”
The Saints are second to last in pass offense, averaging 181 yards a game through the air. They host Atlanta this Sunday.

The Pelicans lost last night as they were burned by the Suns 112 to 110. Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson did not play for New Orleans.

It’s Bama week for the LSU Tigers. The LSU-Alabama game every season is circled on the schedule. Tigers Linebacker Damone Clark says he’s not trying to make this game any bigger than it is…
Cut 19 (14) “…go out there and play.”
LSU running backs coach Kevin Faulk was at practice. He’s been away from the team since his 19-year-old unexpectedly died in September.

Louisiana Tech is looking to end a four-game losing streak on Saturday in Birmingham when they face UAB. The Bulldogs are 2-and-6 on the year and four of those losses were by a touchdown or less. Coach Skip Holtz says not executing at critical times has resulted in some tough losses
Cut 16 (13) “…opportunistic moment”
Kick-off against the Blazers is at 11 AM.

The first college football playoff rankings of the season were released last night and no surprise Georgia is number one. One-loss Alabama is two, ahead of undefeated Michigan State who is at three, Orgeron is ranked fourth, Ohio State fifth, and Cincinnati, who just beat Tulane is sixth.

LSU is getting ready to play second-ranked Alabama. Tigers Offensive Tackle Austin Deculus on what he’ll tell some of the younger guys as they get ready to play against the Crimson Tide…
cut 20 (20) “….in different”

The Pelicans had a 20-point lead in the second quarter but lost last night in Phoenix 112 to 100. New Orleans was playing without Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram, who are both injured.

Louisiana Tech is looking to end a four-game losing streak on Saturday in Birmingham when they face UAB. The Bulldogs are 2-and-6 on the year and four of those losses were by a touchdown or less. Coach Skip Holtz says not executing at critical times has resulted in some tough losses
Cut 16 (13) “…opportunistic moment”
The Bulldogs and the Blazers played a double-overtime thriller last season that was won by Tech 37-34.

Conference USA is reportedly looking at adding four schools, two of them are FCS programs and the other two are FBS independents. Those schools would be Liberty, Jacksonville State, New Mexico State, and Sam Houston State.

And there’s a report McNeese is leaving the Southland Conference for the WAC.

There’s also a report the Saints and Browns talked about a trade involving wide receiver Odell Beckham Junior. But the NFL trade deadline came and went yesterday with no major moves being made by the Black and Gold.

LSU Coach Ed Orgeron says quarterback Myles Brennan is entering the NCAA transfer portal, giving the former starter a chance to find a place where he can start next season and put up some numbers for the NFL scouts…
Cut 19 (22) “…the best.”
Orgeron says current starting quarterback Max Johnson will be full speed this week despite dealing with a sore shoulder and he says the plan is to play Garrett Nussmeier in just one more game, so this could still be a redshirt season for the freshman for the QB.

The one and six Pelicans are in action tonight as they visit the Phoenix Suns to start a four-game road trip. Zion Williamson remains out as he recovers from a fractured foot.

Saints starting quarterback Jameis Winston will miss the rest of the season as a result of a torn ACL and damage to his MCL. Winston suffered the injury in the second quarter of Sunday’s win over Tampa Bay. So who will start this Sunday against Atlanta? Coach Sean Payton is not ready to answer that question
Cut 16 (15) “…to play Sunday.”
Former Chargers and Colts quarterback Phillip Rivers told Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times that if the Saints called about his availability he would listen. Rivers retired at the end of last season after leading Indianapolis to the playoffs and is now a high school football coach in Alabama.

There are reports McNeese is gearing up to leave the Southland Conference to join the WAC, which has plans to become an FBS football-playing conference. Conference USA is reportedly looking to take Sam Houston and New Mexico State away from the WAC.

Saints Coach Sean Payton calls Quarterback Jameis Winston’s A-C-L tear a classic field turf injury. Winston suffered the season-ending knee injury as former LSU Tiger Devin White was trying to tackle him. The Buccaneer’s linebacker was flagged for horse collaring.

So will start this Sunday? Coach Sean Payton could either go with Trevor Siemian who replaced Winston after he was injured or Taysom Hill, who could return for Sunday’s game after suffering a concussion three weeks ago. Payton says even though there’s uncertainty at quarterback, they can start putting together a game plan for Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons…
Cut 17 (10) “ …ready to go.”

The Pelicans say All-Star forward Zion Williams will be out at least another two to three weeks as he recovers from a fractured foot. The one and six Pels are in Phoenix tonight to face the Suns. The game will be televised by T-N-T.

LSU Coach Ed Orgeron says quarterback Myles Brennan is entering the NCAA transfer portal, giving the former starter a chance to find a place where he can start next season and put up some numbers for the NFL scouts…
Cut 19 (22) “…the best.”

The Action Network’s Brett McMurphy reports that Liberty, New Mexico State, Jacksonville State and Sam Houston are all likely to join Conference USA. Conference USA needs an influx of new teams as they are losing eleven members in this latest round of conference realignment.

Saints Coach Sean Payton confirmed today that Quarterback Jameis Winston will miss the rest of the season after tearing his A-C-L and injuring his M-C-L. Tomorrow is the NFL trade deadline, will the Saints make a move to bring in a quarterback. Saints radio color analyst Deuce McCallister doesn’t expect the Black and Gold to make a big move…
cut 10 (10) “….works out first”
McAllister expects either Taysom Hill or Trevor Siemian will start the rest of the games. Siemian played well yesterday, but cornerback P-J Williams came up with the game-clinching play. Williams had the interception for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter….
cut 17 (15) “….it was great”

LSU Football Coach Ed Orgeron confirmed reports today that former starting quarterback Myles Brennan has entered the NCAA transfer portal. Orgeron says Brennan wants to play somewhere next season where he’ll start and impress NFL teams for the 2023 draft. The Tigers at Alabama this Saturday. The third-ranked Crimson Tide are 28.5 point favorites.

Louisiana Tech is on a four-game losing streak after a tough 23-20 loss to Old Dominion. The Bulldogs lost on a 46-yard field goal as time expired. Prior to the game-winning kick, Tech had the ball at the 45-yard line and it was fourth and three. Coach Skip Holtz elected to go for it, but J-D Head’s deep ball down the sideline sailed out of bounds
Cut 20 (18) “do it.”
Tech, who is 2-and-6, is at UAB this Saturday.

The Saints pulled off an improbable win yesterday as they defeated the super bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers 36-27. New Orleans did it without its top two quarterbacks, Taysom Hill, who didn’t play because of a concussion, and Jameis Winston went down with a knee injury after he was tackled by former LSU star Devin White, who was flagged for a horse collar. So New Orleans relied on third-string quarterback Trevor Siemian to lead the way and the Saints got a game-clinching pick-six interception from P-J Williams. But Coach Sean Payton says Winston’s injury is a bad one…
cut 18 (18) “…a little concerned”
There are reports Winston has suffered a season-ending A-C-L injury.

In the Ragin Cajuns 45-0 Homecoming win over Texas State, U-L Lafayette Quarterback Levi Lewis became the school’s all-time passing touchdown leader, surpassing Jake Delhomme. Lewis threw three touchdown passes and the Baton Rouge native now has 65 for his collegiate career. Coach Billy Napier calls Lewis a heck of a football player
cut 19 (19) “…his team”

Louisiana Tech lost its starting quarterback, Austin Kendall, in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s loss to Old Dominion with an apparent lower back injury. His replacement, J-D Head was just 3-for-7 for 23 yards.

And ULM’s starting quarterback Chandler Rogers went down with an arm in Saturday’s 59-28 loss to Appalachian State. Back-up Jiya Wright rushed for 109 yards, but he was also intercepted twice and threw for 158 yards.

Sunday’s game against Tampa Bay is a big day for the Saints as they trail the first-place Buccaneers in the NFC South standings, but it might be an even bigger day for New Orleans Quarterback Jameis Winston as he faces the team that drafted him for the first time while starting for the Black and Gold. Coach Sean Payton wants Winston to play within his abilities…
cut 17 (22) “….understands that”
Saints swiss army knife Taysom Hill will miss his second straight game with a concussion and receiver and return specialist Deonte Harris is questionable with a hamstring injury.

The Pelicans dropped to one and five on the season as they lost to Sacramento 113 to 109 last night. The Kings missed just one free throw while the Pels were 16 of 25 from the charity stripe.

La Tech can use a win today as they visit one-and-six Old Dominion. The Bulldogs have scored 19 points in their last two games and in those contests they converted just nine times on 27 third-down opportunities. Tech Coach Skip Holtz says they got to get that percentage up…
Cut 19 (30) “…situations.”
Kick-off is at 2:30 in Virginia.

Also today, Tulane hosts 2nd ranked Cincinnati. The Cajuns take on Texas State in Lafayette, ULM visits Appalachian State, McNeese is at Southeastern, Nicholls hosts Northwestern, Grambling is at Florida A-and-M.

The Gaming Control Board has approved sports betting licenses for four casinos in Louisiana. Harrah’s in New Orleans, Boomtown Casino in Harvey, L’auberge Baton Rouge and Horseshoe Casino in Bossier City can begin taking sports bets on Sunday. Gaming Control Board Chairman Ronnie Johns says several other casinos have also applied…
cut 16 (09) “…as possible”
L’Auberge in Baton Rouge says it will open its sports book on Monday, while Boomtown Casino in Harvey will begin taking sports bets on Tuesday, according to the Lt. Governor’s office. Meanwhile, the Caesars Sportsbook inside Harrah’s Casino in New Orleans will take its first best on Sunday at 7 AM.

That’s several hours before the Saints will host the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs lead the NFC South with a 6-1 record, while the Saints are 4-and-2. Kick-off is at 3:25.

La Tech can use a win tomorrow as they visit one-and-six Old Dominion. The Bulldogs have scored 19 points in their last two games and in those contests they converted just nine times on 27 third-down opportunities. Tech Coach Skip Holtz says they got to get that percentage up…
Cut 19 (30) “…situations.”
Kick-off is at 2:30 in Norfolk, Virginia.

Also tomorrow, Tulane hosts 2nd ranked Cinncinnati. The Cajuns take on Texas State in Lafayette, ULM visits Appalachian State, McNeese is at Southeastern, Nicholls hosts Northwestern, Grambling is at Florida A-and-M.

Mark Ingram is expected to be at Saints practice today as Ingram is back with the team that drafted him in 2011. Ingram spent eight seasons with the Saints and is the franchise’s second-leading rusher. But in Houston this season, he’s averaging a career-low 3.2 yards a carry. Coach Sean Payton still likes what Ingram brings…
Cut 16 (11) “for us.”
And Payton says Ingram could play this Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The LSU Board of Supervisors has approved the separation agreement between the school and football coach Ed Orgeron. That includes Orgeron’s 17-million dollar buyout.

The Pelicans are home tonight to host the Sacramento Kings. New Orleans is 1-and-4 while the Kings are 2-and-2.

Louisiana Tech is looking to snap a three-game losing streak when they visit Old Dominion on Saturday. Most of the Bulldogs’ losses have been close, but not last week, Tech was blown out by UTSA. Coach Skip Holtz took some positives from the game…
cut 20 (16) “….build on”
The Monarchs’ have lost five in a row and their only win on the season came against Hampton.

ULM looks for its third straight win as they are at Appalachian State. The Ragin Cajuns host Texas State for an 11 AM kick-off. Tulane also has an 11 AM kick-off as they take on second-ranked Cincinnati at Yulman Stadium.

Northwestern State visits Nicholls, McNeese travels to eighth-ranked Southeastern Louisiana. Grambling visits Florida A-and-M and Southern hosts Alcorn State, who is 4-0 in the SWAC.

Saints coach Sean Payton says there’s a high chance running back Mark Ingram will play this Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. New Orleans worked out a trade with Houston this week to bring Ingram back to the Saints.

The Black and Gold need all of the offensive firepower they can get because 44-year-old Tom Brady is still playing at a high level. The Bucs QB leads the NFL in completions, passing yards. touchdowns and he’s only thrown three interceptions. Coach Sean Payton says it’s impressive what Brady is doing…
Cut 18 (29)”…to excel”
Kick-off Sunday in the Ceasars Superdome is at 3:25 on Sunday.

Conference USA lost Southern Miss and Old Dominion to the Sun Belt this week and now CUSA is looking to add. The Athletic reports that Conference USA is in negotiations to bring New Mexico State, Liberty, and U-Conn into the league. Connecticut would just be a football-playing school. Conference USA has also lost six schools to the American Athletic Conference.

Here’s your slate of college football games on Saturday, the Ragin Cajuns get the day started with an 11 AM kick-off against Texas State. Tulane hosts second-ranked Cincinnati.

ULM tries to pull off another upset as they are at Appalachian State. Louisiana Tech is also out east as they visit Old Dominion, who has just one win on the year.

Northwestern State visits Nicholls, McNeese who upset UIW last weekend will try to pull off an even bigger upset when they travel to eighth-ranked Southeastern Louisiana. Grambling visits Florida A-and-M and Southern hosts Alcorn State, who is 4-0 in the SWAC.