No major changes at the top of the college football playoff rankings. Ohio State is number one, LSU is two, Clemson is third and Georgia is fourth. LSU will make its first appearance in the SEC Championship game since 2011, while Georgia is in the title for the third consecutive year. Running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire says the Tigers can’t wait to get to Atlanta
Cut 17 (22) ready to play ”

Bad news for LSU fans looking to buy the Joe Burrow jersey with his name spelled with e-a-u-x. Sara Sanders is the co-owner of the Purple and Gold Sports Shop in Baton Rouge and she says they are not available…
Cut 13 (09) “…not for sale.”

Southeastern Louisiana’s run through the F-C-S playoffs takes them to Montana this Saturday as the Lions seek their first-ever appearance in the quarterfinals. Montana is a six national seed and brings a 9-and-3 record into the contest. S-L-U Coach Frank Scelfo
cut 18 (22) of a game”
This should be a high scoring game. The Lions average 37 points a game, while Montana averages 36 a contest.

The Saints return to practice today. Linebacker Maniti Te’ o is back with the Black and Gold. The former second round pick out of Notre Dame played for the Saints in 2017 and 2018. Te’o is needed after Kiko Alonso and A-J Klein suffered injuries in the win over Atlanta on Thanksgiving night.

LSU remains second, behind Ohio State, in the college football playoff rankings. Clemson is third, Georgia fourth, Utah fifth and Oklahoma is sixth.

The final rankings will come out on Sunday.

Junior running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire’s play has been a big surprise this season for LSU. Edwards-Helaire has rushed for 1,233 yards and 16 touchdowns. He’s also caught 43 passes. Before the season started, many thought Edwards-Helairie would eventually lose his starting job, but the Baton Rouge product says people have doubted him his whole life…
cut 16 (24) “…to the house”
LSU faces Georgia in the SEC Title game at 3 PM.

The Ragin Cajuns and Southern Jaguars are getting ready for conference championship games. U-L Lafayette will take on 20th ranked Appalachian State. Cajuns coach Billy Napier says several key starters on defense will return from injury, nose tackle Zi-Yon Hill, linebacker Ferrod Gardner, and defensive back Percy Butler.

The Cajuns have won ten games in the regular season for the first time. Sarah Armentor with the Ragin Cajuns Store says the number 98 jersey has been a big seller for them this year…
cut 15 (08) “….put a player”

Meanwhile, Southern will face Alcorn State in the SWAC Championship game. The winner will play in the Celebration Bowl on December 21st in Atlanta.

In college basketball, LSU routed UNO 90-54, Ragin Cajuns dribbled past Southeastern Louisiana 98-81, S-M-U slammed Northwestern State 77-51 and the Pelicans lost their sixth straight, 118 to 97 to Dallas.

As we look ahead to Saturday’s SEC Championship game between LSU and Georgia, the Bulldogs will bring one of the nation’s top defenses to Atlanta. But can they stop Biletnikoff Award finalist Ja’Marr Chase, who leads the country in yards per game and touchdown catches. In Chase’s last five games, he’s caught 35 passes for 831 yards and eight touchdowns. Coach Ed Orgeron on the former Rummel standout…
cut 18 (20) player”

In N-F-L news today, the Panthers have fired longtime head coach Ron Rivera. Carolina is 5-and-7 and they just lost to the Redskins.

Seattle’s win over Minnesota last night gives the Saints the number one seed in the N-F-C playoffs. New Orleans hosts San Francisco this Sunday.

Hundreds of LSU fans got their grass handed to them. Kevin Barnhart was on hand to speak with those who obtained some of the free sod from Tiger Stadium during the Monday afternoon giveaway.
Cut 3 (32) “ I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

The PMAC tonight, LSU hosts UNO. The Tigers lead the SEC in shooting at 51-percent. The Ragin Cajuns host Southeastern Louisiana.

In New Orleans, the Pelicans look to end a five-game losing streak as they host Dallas. The Mavericks are 13-and-16. Tip-off is at 6:30.

With LSU playing in the SEC Championship Game, that means less time on the road recruiting for the coaches. But Coach Ed Orgeron says what the Tigers have done on the field this season has been their best recruiting tool, especially for skill position players
Cut 16 (28) …LSU’s offense”
Also, Orgeron says positive discussions are underway to make sure passing game coordinator Joe Brady stays on the LSU coaching staff. Brady is a finalist for the Broyles Award, which goes to the top assistant in college football.

The Ragin Cajuns are getting ready to make another trip to Boone, North Carolina where they’ll play Appalachian State for the second straight year in the Sun Belt Championship game. U-L Lafayette lost twice last year at App State, Cajuns Coach Billy Napier hopes the third time is the charm
cut 19 (19) the game”

Tonight in basketball, the Ragin Cajuns host Southeastern Louisiana. Last year, U-L Lafayette beat the Lions by just one point in Hammond.

Also, LSU hosts UNO. First meeting on the hardwood between these two schools since 2013. And Northwestern State is at SMU.

The Pelicans will try to end a five-game losing streak when they host Dallas. The Mavs are 13-and-6.

New college football playoff rankings will be released tonight. Most believe the LSU Tigers are in the four-team College Football playoff, even if they lose to Georgia in the SEC Championship game. But Coach Ed Orgeron is not taking anything for granted…
cut 17 (15) “…right now”
LSU beat Georgia 30-16 last year at Tiger Stadium. Orgeron says that’s when the team really started believing in Joe Burrow as there quarterback.

LSU Athletics offered free slabs of sod from Tiger Stadium to fans yesterday. About 33-hundred servings of grass were given away in minutes. Clay from Prairieville on what he’ll do with the sod.
Cut 13 (08) “…of the family.”
The sod was removed as LSU plans to improve the drainage and install new turf at Tiger Stadium.

The Ragin Cajuns are a confident team heading into Saturday’s Sun Belt Championship matchup with 25th ranked Appalachian State. U-L Lafayette has won six in a row, since losing to the Mountaineers at Cajun Field, 17-7 on October 9th. Coach Billy Napier says both teams are different two months later…
cut 20 (17) “…excited about the opportunity”
The Cajuns also have a bunch of injuries on the defensive side of the football, which is a reason why they gave up 570 yards of offense in a one-point win over ULM on Saturday.

Game times and sites are set for the private school football championships. And Ouachita Christian will face Catholic Pointe-Coupee in the Superdome for the Division Four State championship a week from Friday.

LSU Quarterback Joe Burrow has broken most LSU passing records and SEC records on his way to possibly winning the Heisman. He’s considered a top-five pick in next year’s N-F-L draft, but the young man from Ohio says he’s living in the moment
Cut 14 (10) “…from me”
Burrow and the Tigers will head to Atlanta later this week to face Georgia in the SEC Championship game.

Louisiana Tech is not getting ready for the Conference USA Championship game, instead U-A-B will represent the West. But the Bulldogs can still win their sixth consecutive bowl game. Coach Skip Holtz says they will find out Sunday where they’ll be playing…
cut 17 (18) “….we are going”
The Independence Bowl in Shreveport and the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth, Texas are two possible bowl destinations for La Tech.

Southeastern Louisiana and Nicholls have advanced to the second round of the F-C-S playoffs. The Lions rallied from a 31-14 deficit to beat Villanova 45-44 in Hammond. S-L-U Coach Frank Scelfo says his team doesn’t quit fighting…
cut 18 (20) we did”
Nicholls had less drama in its game as the Colonels defeated North Dakota 24-6. S-L-U and Nicholls are on the road in the second round of the F-C-S playoffs. The Lions are at Montana, while Nicholls faces North Dakota State, the three-time defending F-C-S champions. N-D-S-U averages 18-thousand for their home games at the Bison Dome.

The Saints will be back in the Superdome Sunday to host San Francisco. The winner will have the best record in the N-F-C.

The 12-0 Tigers will continue their historic march Saturday at 3PM in Atlanta in the SEC Championship game against Georgia. The matchup to watch is LSU’s high-powered offense against Georgia’s stingy defense, which is allowing just 10 points a game. Head coach Ed Orgeron says the Bulldogs have the best defense they’ve faced all season
Cut 11 (08) “…do it all.”
But LSU’s defense looked strong in the blowout victory over Texas A-and-M on Saturday. The Aggies had just 44 yards of total offense midway through the third quarter.

The Ragin Cajuns and Southern are also preparing for conference championship games. U-L Lafayette will head to Boone, North Carolina to face Appalachian State in a rematch of last year’s Sun Belt title game won by the Mountaineers. The SWAC Title game is also a rematch of last year’s, Alcorn State beat Southern last season.

Louisiana Tech did not win the Conference USA Western Division, but they finished off the regular season with a 41-27 victory over UTSA on Saturday. Tech quarterback J’Mar Smith returned from a two-game suspension to throw for 331 yards and three touchdowns. Coach Skip Holtz says his senior Q-B played well
Cut 16 (18) … it as well”
U-A-B’s win over North Texas puts them in the Conference USA championship game over La Tech and Southern Miss. But the Bulldogs will have the opportunity to win a sixth straight bowl game. They will find out their bowl destination on Sunday.

In the NBA, the Pelicans lost their fifth straight last night falling to the Oklahoma City Thunder 107 to 104. New Orleans is now 6-and-14 and have the second-worst record in the Western Conference.

LSU and Georgia are set to meet in Saturday’s SEC Championship game. The Tigers are a perfect 12-0, while the Bulldogs are 11-and-1 and on a six-game winning streak since a double-overtime loss to South Carolina on October 12th. Georgia Coach Kirby Smart’s team now has a chance at getting into the college football playoff…
cut 12 (10) “…college football”
The Bulldogs are led on offense by running back D’Andre Swift, who has rushed for 12-hundred yards.

Two other Louisiana schools are also involved in championship games this weekend. U-L Lafayette meets Appalachian State in the Sun Belt title game, while Southern will face Alcorn State. Both games are rematches from a year ago, won by the Mountaineers and Braves.

The Pelicans lost their fifth in a row last night, a 107 to 104 defeat to Oklahoma City in New Orleans.

Southeastern Louisiana and Nicholls have advanced to the second round of the F-C-S playoffs. The Lions rallied from 31-14 deficit to beat Villanova 45-44 in Hammond. Meanwhile, Nicholls defense didn’t give up a touchdown in a 24-6 win over North Dakota. Senior defensive linemen Sully Laiche led the Colonels to the victory…
cut 19 (16) every week”
The Lions are at Montana this Saturday, while the Colonels visit North Dakota State. The Bison are three-time defending champs.

In other college football news…Ole Miss has fired its head coach Matt Luke. The former Rebels offensive lineman was 15-and-21 in three seasons in Oxford.

And the for first time in four years, Alabama is not ranked in the Top 5 in the A-P poll. The Crimson Tide are ranked ninth.

The Saints defense was relentless last night as they sacked Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan nine times in a 26-18 win over Falcons. With the win, Drew Brees and company wrap up their third consecutive NFC South title. Brees says it’s just one of several steps…
cut 29 (12) “…best football”
New Orleans next game is December 8th at home against the 49ers.

In the high school football playoffs tonight in Class One-A, West St. John is the top seed and the Rams will host 8th seeded Logansport. Also, fourth-seeded Oak Grove is at Homer. The Pelicans are led by senior running back Star Thomas, who has over 16-hundred yards rushing and 20 touchdowns.

In Division Four, fifth-seeded Ouachita Christian hosts Country Day at 6 PM.

It should be an electric atmosphere on Saturday night in Tiger Stadium as the LSU looks to complete a perfect regular season when they host Texas A-and-M at 6 PM. Tiger fans want revenge from last year’s seven overtime loss to the Aggies, but LSU safety Jacoby Stevens says they have to keep their emotions in check
Cut 13 (06) “..aren’t smart”
Kick-off is at 6 PM.

La Tech has lost its last two, but they still have an opportunity to win the Conference USA West if they beat U-T-S-A on Saturday. Suspensions to key players have contributed to the recent losses, but those players are back and Coach Skip Holtz says his players can’t worry about the past
Cut 15 (13) “..UTSA”
Returning from suspension for Saturday’s game are starting quarterback J’Mar Smith and standout receiver Adrian Hardy.

The Saints are N-F-C South Champs for a third consecutive season as they clinched the division title with a 26-18 win over Atlanta on Thanksgiving night. Taysom Hill set the tone, by blocking a punt that set up his three-yard touchdown catch. He also had a 30-yard touchdown run…
cut 30 (12) “….those guys”
The Saints sacked Atlanta Q-B Matt Ryan nine times. Cam Jordan had four of them.

LSU has already wrapped up an SEC West title as they head into tomorrow night’s game against Texas A-and-M. Tigers Safety Jacoby Stevens says last year’s loss to the Aggies has been a motivator…
cut 14 (12) “….ever again”
Kick-off is at 6 PM.

It’s a big night of high school football playoff action across the state tonight. In Five-A, the two-time defending champs, Zachary Broncos, travel to Ruston to take on the Bearcats, who are hosting a quarterfinal game for the first time since 1998.

In four-A, Bastrop travels to top-seeded Lakeshore and second-seeded Neville hosts Westgate who is led by LSU commitment Kayson Boutte. In Two-A, the top two seeds are home, Ferriday faces Kinder, while Many meets Pine.

Two F-C-S playoff games tomorrow, Southeastern Louisiana hosts Villanova and in Thibodaux, Nicholls hosts North Dakota, who owns victories over Montana State, Weber State, and Sam Houston. Colonels Coach Tim Rebowe says North Dakota provides numerous challenges…
cut 18 (14) “….the ball”
Kick-off is at 3 PM.