Gameday has finally arrived as Lane Kiffin makes his highly anticipated debut as the head coach of the LSU Tigers tonight. Tonight also marks the debut of quarterback Sam Leavitt in an LSU uniform. Kiffin says Leavitt has been great…

Cut 21 (14) “…been great.”

The big story has been the drama over the eligibility of athletes in the Class of 2022 who believe they deserve a fifth season. A Baton Rouge judge has said they can play and that includes two football players that are now with LSU after spending time last month in NFL training camps.

But when LSU submitted its official roster last night, tight end Dae’Quan Wright and defensive tackle Zxavian Harris where not on it. Playing them would be against SEC rules according to Commissioner Greg Sankey.

It’s still possible they can be added to the roster later in the season.

Louisiana Tech opens the season at home against Northwestern State at 6:30 tonight. Demons head coach Blain McCorkle says he hopes his team can bounce back from a disappointing opener against Louisiana Christian in another regional rivalry game.

Cut 20 (13) “…game of it.”

UL Lafayette kicks off the season against Lamar at 7. Lamar opened its season with a 21-14 win over Abilene Christian last week. Cajuns head coach Michael Desormeaux says a strong offensive start is important against a veteran team that likes to run the ball.

Cut 19 (10) “…you want.”

ULM and Tulane both kick off the year with difficult road matchups. The Warhawks visit Mississippi State at 6:30, and the Green Wave faces Duke at 2:30.

At 6:00, Southeastern Louisiana visits South Alabama, Nicholls heads to Kansas State and McNeese hosts Texas Wesleyan.

It’s almost time for LSU to kick off its season against Clemson. It will be Lane Kiffin’s first game leading the Tigers roster loaded with transfer talent. Quarterback Sam Leavitt will also play his first game in Tiger Stadium, and Kiffin says the number-one-rated transfer has lived up to the billing.

Cut 21 (14) “…been great.”

Kickoff is at 6:30 tomorrow.

Southern coach Marshall Faulk will also be making his first appearance in front of the home crowd when the Jaguars host Kentucky State. The first-year head coach says he doesn’t feel any added pressure to win at home.

Cut 22 (10) “…to do it.”

Grambling plays its second home game against Central State. Both games kick off at 6:00 tomorrow night

College football around the state is fully underway tomorrow.

Louisiana Tech opens the season at home against Northwestern State at 6:30. Demons head coach Blain McCorkle says he hopes his team can bounce back from a disappointing opener against Louisiana Christian in another regional rivalry game.

Cut 20 (13) “…game of it.”

UL Lafayette kicks off the season against Lamar at 7. Lamar opened its season with a 21-14 win over Abilene Christian last week. Cajuns head coach Michael Desormeaux says a strong offensive start is important against a veteran team that likes to run the ball.

Cut 19 (10) “…you want.”

ULM and Tulane both kick off the year with difficult road matchups. The Warhawks visit Mississippi State at 6:30, and the Green Wave faces Duke at 2:30.

At 6:00, Southeastern Louisiana visits South Alabama, Nicholls heads to Kansas State and McNeese hosts Texas Wesleyan.

A group of high school class of 2022 athletes in the Louisiana lawsuit against the NCAA, SEC and Commissioner Greg Sankey was granted a preliminary injunction for a fifth season of eligibility. That includes players like Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris, who had brief stints in NFL training camps and now plan to play for LSU. Attorney Ryan Downton, who represented the athletes, says the NCAA’s new age-based eligibility rules grant athletes five seasons of eligibility.

Cut 10 (08) “…fifth year.”

The SEC plans to appeal the ruling and filed a separate lawsuit against LSU in a federal court in Alabama. The conference claims LSU’s recruitment of NFL players violates its First Amendment right to enforce its own rules. Tiger Rag Editor Glenn Guilbeau says he believes the SEC does not have the law on their side.

Cut 8 (10) “…could be repercussions.”

The start of the Lane Kiffin era at LSU is almost here. The Tigers host Clemson tomorrow in a game that will be the center of the football universe. “College GameDay” is on campus and nearly 100 recruits will be in attendance. Kiffin says the Tigers are ready to put on a show.

Cut 18 (14) “…into the stadium.”

UL Lafayette kicks off the season against Lamar tomorrow. The Ragin’ Cajuns are kicking off their 125th season and were picked to finish second in the Sun Belt West this year. Desormeaux expects a lot of excitement for the season opener.

Cut 20 (14) “…past nine months.”

Judge William Jorden has granted a preliminary injunction that will allow 42 college athletes seeking a fifth year of eligibility to play this athletic season, including two football players who were with NFL teams during training camp. One of the attorneys for the plaintiffs, Tony Clayton, says the judge’s ruling also prevents the SEC from punishing schools that roster players that practiced with NFL teams…

Cut 11 (13) “….in concert”

The NCAA and the SEC is expected to appeal the ruling and the SEC has filed its own federal lawsuit against LSU and president Wade Rousse, athletics director Verge Ausberry and head football coach Lane Kiffin, alleging LSU waged a deliberated and coordinated campaign to recruit pro players. Attorney General Liz Murrill calls the lawsuit garbage.

Lane Kiffin’s eagerly awaited LSU debut is just one day away. The Tigers host Clemson tomorrow at 6:30 in a game that has seen the most media and celebrity credentials issued in Tiger Stadium history. ESPN’s “College GameDay” will be on campus, and Kiffin says all of that attention is good for the program.

Cut 17 (17) “…person and financially.”

High school football last night Christian Maxie rushed for 449 yards and three touchdowns as Ouachita outscored Byrd 44 to 37, Sterlington defeated Franklin Parish 42 to 30 despite four touchdowns from LSU commit Trey Murphy, Calvary Baptist defeated Huntington 48 to 22 and Barbe beat Iowa 42 to 15.

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.