Fresh off their first shutout of the season, LSU took a road trip to the Plains to take on an Auburn team that was on top of the world. While a 31-0 victory over Mississippi St was certainly impressive for Lane Kiffin’s team last week, fellow first-year head coach, Alex Golesh, secured his first marquee win for his Tigers with a 27-24 upset win over the #1 ranked Georgia Bulldogs in Athens.With all of the momentum in the world, the question was whether or not they could stay hot against LSU or were they do for a hangover. Sam Leavitt and company did their part to make sure it was the latter, showing up in Jordan-Hare and dominating Auburn with an explosive offensive showing for a 38-17 victory. That score included a late touchdown by Golesh’s Tigers that made it look even closer than it actually was. The win improved LSU to 6-2 overall (3-2 SEC) and propels them in to their bye week for some much needed rest. Auburn dropped to 4-3 overall and now sit below .500 with a 2-3 record in the SEC. Kiffin’s team faces a two game gauntlet coming out of their bye as Alabama and Texas come to Baton Rouge in consecutive weeks for what will essentially be playoff elimination games. The Tigers carried over their momentum from their shutout win over the Bulldogs last week, racking up 552 yards of total offense, while only allowing 271 on defense. Leavitt was phenomenal, finishing 32-45 for a career-high 387 yards and 3 touchdowns through the air. Despite his compromised hamstring, he still found a way to add 54 yards rushing and another touchdown on the ground Jackson Harris continued his ascent as one of the top wide receivers in the SEC, delivering a 178 yard, 2 touchdown performance on 9 receptions. He’s been outstanding since week 4. In the first 3 weeks of the season, he only had 5 receptions for 117 yards and 0 TDs. Starting against Texas A&M in week 4, he now has 31 receptions for 517 yards and 7 TDs in five games. Leavitt needed someone to step up as his top target after Trey’Dez Green went down in that week 3 loss ot Ole Miss. Harris has done just that. Speaking of Green, he returned a couple of weeks earlier than anticipated. When the first injury report came out last Wednesday and he was noticeably absent, it came as a giant surprise. Everyone then began to wonder how recovered is he actually, and how much would he play. He was out there from the very beginning and ended up playing 49 of 83 offensive snaps, hauling in 5 receptions for 50 yards and a touchdown of his own. His return, along with Harris’s emergence, is exciting for Kiffin’s offense. Game Flow The explosion started slow, as it typically seems to do for this LSU offense. After Auburn went 3 and out on the opening possession, drove down for a field goal, which was answered by Golesh’s Tigers. Leavitt and the offense would then be off to the races from that point on, scoring their first of 4 touchdowns in the 1st half. While about to get drilled in the pocket, the Tiger quarterback hung in there and delivered a perfect throw over the middle for Harris’s first touchdown of the day to jump to a 10-7 lead. After three consecutive 3 and outs between both teams, LSU’s most impressive drive of the day came on a 14 play, 95 yard touchdown drive that was capped off with Green’s 15-yard score to go up 17-3. That drive included a gutsy 4th down conversion in their own territory on a beautifully drawn up trick play by Charlie Weis Jr. Auburn was finally able to answer, as Byrum Brown orchestrated an 11 play, 75 yard touchdown drive. His running ability was the biggest concern for Blake Baker’s defense going in to this game and he showed why with a 34-yard run to make it 17-10. With a little less than 6 minutes left in the first half, LSU had the chance to milk one final scoring drive before getting the ball to start the second half, but Harris had other plans. On a 3rd and 5, he caught the ball on a middle crossing route and turned on the jets to outrun two Auburn defenders on his way to a 70-yard touchdown, his second of the day. After another quick 3 and out for Brown and his offense, LSU then got their milked final drive, going 74 yards on 10 plays, capped off by Leavitt’s fourth touchdown, a 4-yard run to give his Tigers a 31-10 halftime lead. While scoring came to a halt in the 3rd quarter, it became the LSU defense show, as Baker’s unit smothered the Auburn offense. Golesh’s Tigers were only able to manage 67 rushing yards, far short of their 182 yard per game average. What the Tigers were able to do against Brown and his legs was a mirror of what they did to Marcel Reed a few weeks ago. The big Auburn QB finished with just 21 yards rushing on 19 carries and was sacked a whopping 6 times. He wasn’t much better through the air, finishing 15-24 for only 160 yards. Jordan Ross showed up big for the second week in a row, accounting for 2 of the sacks on Brown and 2.5 tackles for loss. The SEC’s second-leading sacker, Princewill Umanmielen, returned from his head injury that knocked him out of the Mississippi St game after just 7 plays and recorded a sack and 1.5 TFLs of his own. LSU’s final nail in the coffin came early in the 4th quarter on a 7 play, 67 yard drive that resulted in a 12-yard touchdown run by Dilin Jones. While Leavitt, Harris, and Green garnered much of the praise, and deservedly so, Jones produced yet another outstanding day on the ground. He finished with 92 rushing yards on 21 carries for a 4.4 yards per carry average, while adding 4 receptions for 27 yards. His touchdown made it 38-10. Auburn was able to get the garbage time touchdown after backup QB, Tristan Ti’a took over and scrambled for a 7-yard run to make it 38-17. The score came with just 24 seconds left in the game. Summary It was LSU’s most complete game of the year. Although the shutout over the Bulldogs was nice the week prior, it came against a backup quarterback and at home. This win at Auburn secured Kiffin’s first SEC road win as the head coach of the Tigers. It also snapped a 735 day streak since LSU’s last conference road win, which came on October 19, 2024 when the Tigers defeated Arkansas in Fayetteville. Kiffin’s team will head in to their bye week as preparations begin for a critical matchup in Tiger Stadium on November 7th. The #10 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide will travel to Baton Rouge for a 2:30 pm kickoff. With both teams sitting at 6-2, next Saturday is likely a playoff elimination game.
Colonels earn first road victory since 2024, end four-game losing streak, and retain the NSU Trophy in Natchitoches.
The Saints lost in Paris today. They look lost on the field and the organization from the top down appears lost. The Saints for all of their supposed effort and emphasis on this international game did not show up ready once again to play their opponent. It was once again an embarrassing showing by the offense after many hoped they could carry over their offensive success from last week against the Giants. This game despite the score was not all that close. If it was not for a bad play from Jalen Ramsey against DeVaughn Vele on his TD catch the Saints would not have gotten into the endzone at all today. The complete incompetence of the Saints run game is so astonishing there are so many things you could say but they are all tired at this point. It is nothing new for this team. The simple fact of finding some success last week to then having the worst performance this season but also the NFL’s worst performance in four years speaks to just how bad the coaching and execution of the run game is for the Saints. There is too much being asked of a second year QB with a broken hand to carry this offense and the Saints are failing him by putting him in this position. The ineptitude is not just on offense though. The defense today could not stop the run once again and continue to be one of the worst run defending teams in the NFL. On third down the Saints routinely could not get off the field and allowed the Steelers to drive the ball, chewing up the clock all day long. It felt like the only time the Saints could get a stop was when Chase Young and Carl Granderson were able to get to the quarterback today. Then there were the plays where the coverage just made no sense. When you have Jonas Sanker playing man coverage deep against DK Metcalf you are doing something wrong as a defensive playcaller. It’s not just a one off issue as the Steelers scored their touchdown to Darnell Washington because of the simple size advantage given to them by having Kool Aid in coverage. Cameron Jordan was in coverage down the field the other week. These types of situations cannot happen if you want to be a competitive football team which the Saints just are not anymore. Heading into the bye change is needed for this organization. The status quo is not good enough as fans' patience has reached its limit for this regime. Fans do not want to hear or watch the same story every week and feel apathetic towards their football team but that is exactly what the Saints are doing to their fans. This coaching staff does not have the answers needed to even show the needed signs of improvement to even consider wanting to give them more time. But the front office and Mickey Loomis are just as much to blame for the sad state of affairs the Saints find themselves in. Regime change is needed for the Saints to get where they want to be but until Gayle Benson makes those changes the Saints will continue to be lost.
The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns are on the road this weekend as they prepare to face the Southern Miss Golden Eagles in Hattiesburg, Mississippi on Saturday afternoon. The game is set for a 4pm kickoff from Carlisle-Faulkner Field at Renasant Stadium and will be streamed on ESPN+. The History of the Matchup Louisiana and Southern Miss have traded blows a total of 56 times dating back to 1923, with the Golden Eagles holding a 43-12-1 edge over the Cajuns all-time. Southern Miss has won 12 of the last 13 meetings, with Louisiana’s lone victory during that stretch coming in 2024 in Hattiesburg. The two programs have played annually since the Golden Eagles joined the Sun Belt Conference in 2022. Although Louisiana and Southern Miss are relatively recent Sun Belt Conference rivals, the two programs share a conference history dating back nearly a century. The schools previously competed together in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association from 1931 to 1941 and the Gulf States Conference from 1948 to 1951. The Cajuns (Bulldogs at the time) never defeated Southern Miss during either stint, with their only non-loss coming in a scoreless tie in 1941. That said, this matchup means a lot for both programs. Southern Miss looks to continue its dominant success over Louisiana, while the Cajuns are looking to put an end to it. Fortunately this season, UL will enter this matchup with the upper hand. The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns This Season Louisiana enters this matchup 5-2 overall and 2-1 in the conference. The Cajuns defeated Troy 33-6 last Saturday in Lafayette behind a dominating defensive performance, allowing the Trojans to enter the red zone just once throughout the game, which resulted in a missed field goal. The ground game paved the way for UL’s offense with 243 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Quarterback Lunch Winfield led the Cajuns with 65 rushing yards. Louisiana finished with 351 total yards of offense, but the more impressive statistic may have been its ability to control possession. The Cajuns held the football for more than 36 minutes and converted 10 of their 17 third-down opportunities. A 16-play, 91-yard touchdown drive that consumed over eight minutes in the third quarter highlighted that performance. It was a much-needed win for the Cajuns, who lost in heartbreaking fashion to the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs the weekend prior. The victory moved Louisiana into a tie for second place in the Sun Belt West Division at 2-1, trailing Louisiana Tech who currently sit at 2-0 in conference play. Through seven games, Louisiana is averaging 30 points and 378 yards of offense per contest, including 200 rushing yards. Winfield continues to be an important piece of the Cajuns’ offense, leading the team with 463 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns while also throwing for 1,153 yards. It has not been his passing game as much as it has been his rushing game that has made his special, but nonetheless, the redshirt junior quarterback has been the heart and soul of this entire Cajuns offense. Defensively, the Cajuns have been equally impressive, allowing just 19.3 points and 298 total yards per game. Louisiana has also forced 14 turnovers this season. They’ve been exceptionally tremendous at home, with 20 points against Arkansas State being the most they’ve allowed so far through four home games, all resulting in wins. Kneaux the Opponent: Southern Miss Golden Eagles Southern Miss enters Saturday’s matchup with a disappointing 1-5 overall record and an 0-2 mark in conference play. The Golden Eagles opened their season with a commanding 49-3 victory over Alcorn State but have since dropped five consecutive games, including losses to Troy and Arkansas State to begin Sun Belt play. The Golden Eagles are coming off a 23-13 home loss to Arkansas State last Saturday. Southern Miss struggled to establish offensive consistency throughout the contest, finishing with just 289 total yards. Arkansas State controlled the pace of the game, possessing the football for more than 40 minutes and limiting Southern Miss to fewer than 20 minutes of possession. Despite the loss, Southern Miss showed signs of improvement defensively after allowing 662 yards and 55 points to Troy the week prior. The Golden Eagles recorded four sacks and held Arkansas State to 304 total yards while forcing the Red Wolves to kick three field goals inside the 30. On the season, Southern Miss is averaging 24.2 points and 394.5 yards of offense per game, with much of that production coming through the passing attack. Quarterback Landry Lyddy has thrown for 1,032 yards and seven touchdowns, while wide receiver Mario Sanders leads the receiving corps with 492 yards. Running back Steven Robinson has also been a contributor, totaling 432 rushing yards and five touchdowns. However, the biggest concern for Southern Miss has been its defense. The Golden Eagles are allowing 32.7 points and 446.7 total yards per game, both bottom 15 marks in the FBS. Opposing offenses have found particular success running the football, averaging 252 rushing yards per contest against Southern Miss, including a 437 rushing yard performance by Troy. Turnovers have also been a concern, with the Golden Eagles throwing nine interceptions through six games. Southern Miss will look to turn things around in front of its home crowd Saturday, as the contest will also serve as the program’s Homecoming game. Keys to the Game 1. Establish the Ground Game It seems like it’s the key to this Cajuns offense every week, and it’ll be no different on Saturday. This is perhaps the biggest advantage Louisiana has entering Saturday. The Cajuns are averaging a nice 200.3 rushing yards per game, while Southern Miss is surrendering an average of 252 yards on the ground, the second worst in the nation. Louisiana has demonstrated its ability to move the football with multiple rushing threats, particularly in last Saturday’s performance against Troy. Winfield, JJ Garner, Anthony Reagan Jr. and Steven Blanco all rushed for at least 50 yards against the Trojans. If the Cajuns can find that same success in Hattiesburg, they should be able to control the pace of the game, extend possessions and keep the Southern Miss offense off the field. 2. Limit the Golden Eagles’ Passing Attack Despite their struggles this season, Southern Miss has shown that it can move the football through the air. The Golden Eagles are averaging 260.8 passing yards per game, making their passing attack one of the more productive aspects of their offense. Louisiana’s defense has been one of its strengths this season, allowing just 194 passing yards per game. However, the Cajuns will need to be disciplined in coverage and prevent Lyddy from connecting with Sanders and the rest of the receiving corps for explosive plays. The last time UL faced a passing game this productive was against USC, where Maiava threw for 261 yards and five touchdowns. Obviously, USC and Southern Miss are two completely different schools who are playing on two completely different levels, but this isn’t something the Cajuns want to overlook. Southern Miss will want to expose your secondary. Southern Miss’ offense gets immobilized very quickly when the passing game is slowed down. That said, forcing them either into must-throw and long situations, or shutting down the pass game enough to force them to run, will be important in order to keep the Golden Eagles at bay. 3. Win the Turnover Battle and Control Possession This is another key that UL finds itself surrounded with every week. Louisiana has done an impressive job of forcing turnovers and limiting opposing teams’ opportunities on offense. The Cajuns have forced 14 turnovers this season, while Southern Miss has struggled with interceptions and consistency. On the flip side, UL has found itself turning over the ball in many key situations throughout the season, which was the main reason why they lost against Louisiana Tech. Coach Michael Desormeaux has even voiced his frustration in regard to those turnovers. Fortunately, the team limited those turnovers by having zero last week against Troy, so they are trending in the right direction. Time of possession could also play a major factor. Louisiana is averaging more than 33 minutes of possession per game, compared to just under 26 minutes for Southern Miss. If the Cajuns can protect the football and sustain long drives, as they did against Troy, it could be a long afternoon for the Golden Eagles’ defense. What to Watch For One interesting storyline entering Saturday involves the familiarity between the two head coaches. Southern Miss head coach Blake Anderson previously served as Louisiana’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2007, when current Cajuns head coach Michael Desormeaux was playing quarterback for the program. During his weekly press conference Monday, Anderson spoke highly of Desormeaux and the identity he has established within the Louisiana football program, describing the Cajuns as a physical team that plays hard-nosed football. Another factor worth watching is how Louisiana handles playing away from home. The Cajuns are undefeated in Lafayette this season but have struggled to find the same consistency on the road, where they currently hold a 1-2 record, with the lone win against a struggling Charlotte team. With Southern Miss celebrating Homecoming and looking to snap its losing streak, Louisiana cannot afford to overlook the Golden Eagles simply because of their record. It’s also a game the Cajuns simply cannot afford to lose if they want to stay in the conference championship race. Final Score Prediction: Louisiana 31, Southern Miss 24 Louisiana enters this matchup as the more complete football team, particularly when comparing the two defenses and their ability to control the ground game. The Cajuns’ rushing offense presents a difficult challenge for a Southern Miss defense that has struggled to stop opposing teams this season. That said, I don’t see a reason why the Cajuns can’t control this game. But with this matchup seemingly being a regional rivalry, the two teams always seem to keep it close as of lately, which is why I only have UL winning this game by seven. Not to mention it is Southern Miss’ homecoming game. In what should be a hard-fought game, Louisiana’s ability to sustain drives and control possession could ultimately prove to be the deciding factor in who wins this game. That said, Southern Miss is not an opponent that should be overlooked. The Golden Eagles have a capable passing attack and will be playing with plenty of motivation in front of their home crowd. However, if Louisiana can establish its rushing attack early, limit explosive plays through the air and avoid costly turnovers, UL should have enough to leave Hattiesburg with at least a victory, if not a convincing one. A win would move Louisiana to 6-2 overall and 3-1 in conference play (and the SBC West), keeping the Cajuns in the thick of the Sun Belt West Division race heading into their bye week. For a Louisiana program looking to build on its momentum following the victory over Troy, Saturday presents another opportunity to prove that the Cajuns can be a legitimate contender in the Sun Belt West Division. It won’t come easy, but the Cajuns should have what it takes to ruin homecoming weekend in Hattiesburg.