The Saints conclude the preseason tonight as they host the Baltimore Ravens at 7 PM. Usually the starters sit for the fourth and final preseason game, but Coach Sean Payton says they’ll play tonight as the team looks to build momentum to start of the regular season. Right now, the Saints roster stands at 75, but they’ll have to cut it down to 53. Back-up quarterback Garrett Grayson is one of those players who is on the bubble after throwing two interceptions last week.

Tonight is also the start of the college football season. Tulane plays its first game under new head coach Willi Fritz as the Green Wave visit Wake Forest. Tulane is looking to improve from back-to-back 3-and-9 seasons. Kick-off is at 6 PM.

Also tonight…ninth ranked Tennessee hosts Appalachian State, who is a favorite to win the Sun Belt. And South Carolina faces Vanderbilt on ESPN.

Tomorrow night it’s Northwestern State at 21st ranked Baylor.

A highly anticipated college football season kicks-off Saturday afternoon for the LSU Tigers. Running back Leonard Fournette needs nearly 16-hundred years on the ground this year to become LSU’s all-time leading rusher. But the Heisman hopeful says individual success is not what’s driving him…
cut 18 (10) “…a lot”
Fournette rushed for just 18 yards when the Tigers and Badgers kicked-off the season in 2014.

The LHSAA’s executive committe approved the changing of state championship schedules for five different sports. Many of the changes are because of the expanded public-private school split. The girls and boys basketball championships will hold semifinals Monday through Thursday and the title games will be Friday and Saturday. Both baseball and softball have added an extra day to their schedule to accomodate the influx of teams.

With the 2016 football season set to begin, there’s a lot of focus on LSU starting quarterback Brandon Harris. Tigers running back Leonard Fournette likes the level of confidence Harris is showing….
cut 17 (14) “…tremendous change”
Harris is nine and four as a starter.

Many LSU fans begin the journey to Green Bay today. The LSU Alumni Association has chartered six planes to take 12-hundred Tigers to upper Wisconsin. Rhett Butler with the Alumni Association says unfortunately some flood victims had to cancel and can’t go…
cut 9 (06) “….new folks”

The college football season begins tonight for Tulane. The Green Wave are at Wake Forest.

The final preseason game of the year is tonight for the Saints as they host the Baltimore Ravens. The Saints offensive line has not looked good in the preseason and Coach Sean Payton said this week they may move last year’s first round pick Andrus Peat to left guard. Starting offensive tackle Zach Strief says maybe a move like that can help the o-line gel…
cut 20 (10) “….perform well”
Kick-off is at 7 PM at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome and the starters are expected to play.

The LHSAA executive committee says John Curtis football will have to forfeit victories from 2013-2015, because of a case involving offensive lineman Willie Allen, who now plays for LSU. The association says John Curtis broke violated rules by allowing Allen to live with an assistant coach. Coach JT Curtis says he’s disappointed in the executive committee’s ruling.

After rushing for nearly two-thousand yards last season, LSU running back Leonard Fournette enters this season as one of the favorites to win the Heisman Trophy. Fournette is considered one of the most talented players in college football, but the junior from New Orleans says there’s outstanding talent across LSU’s roster…:
Cut 16 (12) “so much better”

Meanwhile, about 12-hundred purple and gold fans are headed to Lambeau Field this morning with the LSU Alumni Association to watch LSU take on the Wisconsin Badgers for the 2016 season opener. Spokesman for the group, Rhett Butler, says they have chartered six planes and rented out four hotels in Green Bay for the big game…:
CUT 7 (10) “ever done”
The game kicks off at 2:30.

The final tune-up before the regular season is tonight as the Saints host the Baltimore Ravens. New Orleans is 0-3 in the preseason, which is why the starters are expected to play tonight. Offensive tackle Zach Strief understands the urgency to play better…:
Cut 19 (10) “the garbage”
Kickoff is at 7pm.

John Curtis could have to forfeit 20 wins from the 2013-2015 seasons, and the 2013 state title after the LHSAA denied an appeal from the school of a ruling that said a former student played while he wasn’t eligible. The organization said John Curtis violated the rention rule by providing housing for Willie Allen, now an offensive tackle at LSU.

Fans will get a chance to taste a brand new Ragin’ Cajuns beer when the 2016 football season begins Saturday at Cajun Field. Ragin’ Cajuns Genuine Louisiana Lager will debut when the Boise State Broncos face the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns at 11 a.m.

The Saints need help in the pass rushing department and found someone that can help fill that void by signing Paul Kruger, who was recently released by the Cleveland Browns. Coach Sean Payton says Kruger rushes with power and is a high-motor guy. But last season Kruger only had 2.5 sacks, the fewest for him personally since 2011. New Orleans completes its preseason schedule tomorrow by hosting Baltimore.

Multiple media reports say the Pittsburgh Steelers have claimed quarterback Zach Mettenberger on waivers. The former LSU standout was recently released by the San Diego Chargers.

John Curtis High School’s appeal will have to forfeit victories from the 2013, 14 and 15 seasons and return their 2013 state championship trophy The LHSAA is penalizing the football powerhouse, because former offensive lineman Will Allen, who now plays at LSU, lived with an assistant coach.

The weather looks really nice for the LSU-Wisconsin game in Green Bay, sunny skies in the upper 70s. The high temperature on Saturday in Lafayette for the Ragin Cajuns-Boise State contest will be 90-degrees. UL Lafayette Coach Mark Hudspeth says it will be interesting to see how the Broncos can perform in the south Louisiana heat….
cut 20 (18) “….than anything”
Kick-off will be at 11 AM.

Several Pelican players including Anthony Davis and recently acquired Langston Galloway were in Baton Rouge today visiting with flood victims at a shelter.

The Louisiana Tech women’s basketball schedule for the upcoming season is out. The Lady Techsters host LSU on November 11th and Auburn on December 14th.

The Saints have reportedly signed free agent linebacker Paul Kruger, who was recently released by the Cleveland Browns. A big need for New Orleans is a pass rusher and Kruger can help fill that void. Two years ago, he recorded a career-high 11 sacks, but last season the 30-year-old only had 2.5 sacks.

In college football, ULM is coming off a 2-and-11 campaign. The Warhawks defense will have a different look this season under defensive coordinator Mike Collins. Head Coach Matt Viator says there’s a lot of new guys on that side of the ball and he’s interested to see how that group plays…
cut 17 (17) “…this week”
ULM begins its season by hosting Southern on Saturday night at Malone Stadium.

Wisconsin’s leading tackler from a season ago, linebacker TJ Edwards will not play in Saturday’s game against LSU. Edwards broke his foot in June and he’s still not healthty enough to play.

In Lafayette, the Cajuns are getting ready to host Boise State. The Broncos quarterback is Brett Rypien. In the 10 games he played last season, the Broncos averaged 42 points a contest. Cajuns Coach Hudspeth on how they plan to slow down Boise’s offense…
cut 19 (16) “…will be”
Kick-off between the Cajuns-Boise State is at 11 AM.

The LHSAA executive committee meets today where they could punish John Curtis and force them to forfeit victories from the 2013, 2014 and 2015 seasons. It reportedly stems from having one of their former players living with an assistant coach.

After a disappointing 2015 season, the Ragin Cajuns look to start 2016 with a big win over Boise State on Saturday afternoon at Cajun Field. Running back Elijah McGuire is back for UL Lafayette and he’s the only player in the nation with three-thousand yards rushing and one-thousand receiving yards during his career. Cajuns Coach Mark Hudspeth says they are expecting more big things from their senior…:
Cut 18 (16) “our team”
The Cajuns-Boise state game will kick-off at 11 AM.

Fox Sports college football analyst Stewart Mandel predicts LSU and Alabama will play twice this season. His playoff final four includes Florida State, Alabama, LSU and TCU — with Alabama and LSU facing off in Fiesta Bowl. The Tigers open the season against Wisconsin Saturday.

The Matt Viator era at ULM kicks off Saturday night at Malone Stadium in Monroe as the Warhawks host the Southern Jaguars. The Jags were 6-5 in 2015 and Viator says they provide a good challenge for his team..:
Cut 16 (20) “go along”
The ULM/Southern game will kick-off at 6pm.

Saints coach Sean Payton says you can expect to see quarterback Drew Brees on the field when the Black and Gold kicks off against Baltimore in tomorrow night’s preseason finale. He says all of the starters will play.

In the MLB, in this Major League debut, former LSU standout JaCoby Jones had two hits and two RBIs in the Detroit Tigers 8-4 win over the White Sox.

The Major League Baseball Players Association announced they are getting together to contribute $250,000 to assist flood victims in South Louisiana.

LSU running back Leonard Fournette says he’s ready to go for Saturday’s season opener against Wisconsin. Fournette enters the season 13 rushing yards shy of reaching three-thousand for his career. He will likely become the fastest player in school history to three-thousand rushing yards. Fournette is set to play in his 26th collegiate game and Head Coach Les Miles says that kind of experience should benefit him well…
cut 20 (20) “…he’s had”
Miles also says tackle Maea Teuhema (My-uh Tuh-hoo-muh) is also healthy after suffering a sprained ankle earlier in the camp. He’s listed on the depth chart as the back-up at both left and right tackle.

Saints Coach Sean Payton said today the starters will play in Thursday night’s preseason finale against Baltimore, including quarterback Drew Brees. 2006 was the last time Brees started in the preseason finale. The first-team offense has struggled in the preseason. The team is also looking to improve its pass rush. They’ve traded a conditional seventh round pick to Miami for defensive end Chris McCain and pass-rushing linebacker Paul Kruger visted the team today. Two years ago, Kruger had 11 sacks for the Browns, but last year the 30-year-old only had two and half sacks.

In news regarding former LSU players….the Chargers have released quarterback Zach Mettenberger. The Detroit Tigers have called up Jacoby Jones to the major leagues. Jones will make his major league debut tonight and start at third base and bat eighth as the Tigers host the White Sox, who will send Anthony Ranaudo to the mound.

Former Ragin Cajuns star Ladarius Green has been placed on the physically unable to perform list by the Pittsburgh Steelers, which means he’ll miss the first six weeks of the NFL season. Green signed a four-year contract in the offseason with Pittsburgh. Some believe he’s dealing with recurring headaches from multiple concussions.

LSU Coach Les Miles says all nine full-time assistants will be on the sideline for the season opener against Wisconsin. Traditionally, the Tigers have had their offensive and defensive coordinators in the press box. But Coach Les Miles says Cam Cameron and Dave Aranda wanted to be on the field, which means graduate assistants will be in the press box…
cut 19 (19) “…this will change”

Saints Coach Sean Payton says starters will play in Thursday night’s preseason finale against Baltimore. New Orleans is 0-3 in the preseason and especially the first-team offense has not looked good.

Redshirt freshman J’Mar Smith will start at quarterback for Louisiana Tech when they take on Arkansas in the season opener. Smith is taking the place of Ryan Higgins as the starting quarterback. Higgins will not start because he was arrested on DWI charges before the start of fall camp. Higgins could play against Arkansas. The Razorbacks are known for their power run game and Bulldogs Coach Skip Holtz says it will be a test for his defense…
cut 17 (21) “…of football”

In other college football notes, Grambling wide receiver Chad Williams has been suspended for the season opener because of his arrest on weapon and drug charges.

The 5th ranked LSU Tigers will kick-off the season on Saturday against an unranked Wisconsin squad, who will start a fifth year senior quarterback. Twenty-three-year-old Bart Houston is set to make his first collegiate start and LSU Coach Les Miles says he’s a talented kid from California…:
Cut 18 (10) “with the ball”
LSU running back Leonard Fournette enters this game 13 rushing yards shy of reaching three-thousand for his career. He will likely become the fastest player in school history to three-thousand rushing yards.

Fans going to the game at historic Lambeau Field are being reminded of the stadium’s carry in policy. It’s the same as every NFL stadium meaning only bags or purses allowed inside must be clear plastic and no larger than 12x6x12. Kickoff between the Tigers and Badgers is set for 2:30 p.m.

Redshirt freshman J’mar Smith gets the nod over Price Wilson and Smith will start at quarterback for Louisiana Tech this Saturday when they kick-off the season at Arkansas. Coach Skip Holtz on how he arrived to the decision for Smith to start against the Hogs..:
Cut 16 (19) “three weeks”
Smith is taking the place of Ryan Higgins as the starting quarterback. Higgins will not start because he was arrested on DWI charges before the start of fall camp.

Grambling State football coach Broderick Fobbs announced that wide receiver Chad Williams is suspended for the season opener against Virginia University of Lynchberg. Williams was arrested last May and charged with possession of marijuana and guns.

LSU is into game week preparations as they’ll face Wisconsin this Saturday at 2:30 in Lambeau Field. The Badgers were 10-3 last season and Tigers safety Jamal Adams calls the Big 10 school, a smart, well coached football team…
cut 18 (12) “…dialed in”
Coach Les Miles says Wisconsin has playmakers on the defensive side of the football and they were very tough to score on last year…
cut 30 (13) “…268 yards”
But Wisconsin’s defensive coordinator last year, is now LSU’s defensive coordinator, Dave Aranda, who will be on the sidelines to start the year, along with offensive coordinator Cam Cameron. Graduate assistants will be up in the press box on gamedays.

Louisiana Tech Head Football Coach Skip Holtz said today that redshirt freshman J’mar Smith will start at quarterback when the Bulldogs visit Arkansas on Saturday. Smith was a three-star recuit coming out of Mississippi and he’s filling in for Ryan Higgins, who will not start, after he was arrested on D-W-I charge right before the start of preseason camp.

Grambling State football coach Broderick Fobbs announced that wide receiver Chad Williams is suspended for the season opener against Virginia University of Lynchberg. Williams was arrested last May and charged with possession of marijuana and guns.

Saints Coach Sean Payton said today that they may move struggling offensive lineman Andrus Peat to left guard. Payton says when they drafted Peat in the first round, they envisioned he would play on the right side, but so far during this preseason, it isn’t working out, so he may move to left guard. New Orleans final preseason game is Thursday night at home against Baltimore.