What to expect from USA Offense and Defense Roll Dat Wave Pod drops tmr w/ @greenwavecolin ! Full Preview breakdown and more! What South Alabama’s offense is: Head coach Major Applewhite is calling the plays himself after taking over mid-2025. It is a multiple-spread system that wants to run first, stay on schedule, and live in the short-to-intermediate passing game. They do not take many deep shots. Last year they ranked 121st nationally in pass attempts per game. Week 1 this year they rushed 59 times for 241 yards. That is the identity. QB Bishop Davenport started all 12 games in 2025: 200-of-294 (68%), 2,073 yards, 12 TD, 6 INT, plus 325 rushing yards and 9 rushing TDs. He is efficient when he is completing 70%+. When he dips below that, USA went 0-7 last year. He is a throw-on-the-run, keep-it-alive quarterback, not a 60-yard bomber. Vs Tulane last September he was good: 17-of-24, 231 yards, 2 passing TDs, 63 rush yards, 1 rushing TD. Week 1 vs SELA: 18-of-27, 154 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT, plus a rushing score. Backup is Jared Hollins. Running backs by committee, by design. Kentrel Bullock (1,085 yards last year) is gone. In his place: • PJ Martin 18-69-1 vs SELA; 5.4 ypc last year • Keenan Phillips 13-66 vs SELA; 605 yards in 2025 • Trae’von Dunbar 13-60-1 vs SELA All three finished between 60 and 69 yards in Week 1. Nobody is the featured back. They will lean on volume and Davenport keepers. Wide Receivers: The problem is they lost Devin Voisin, who had 8 catches for 152 yards and 2 TDs against Tulane last year (including a 65-yard score). Returning pieces: Anthony Eager (top returning target, 40 catches in 2025, more of a possession guy), Brendan Jenkins (5-78-1 vs SELA), Micah Woods, Jeremiah Jones-Thomas. Tight end Rod Gibbs is in the mix. This group can move chains. It has not shown a true vertical threat yet this season. Offensive line is the question mark. Last year’s unit ran well; this year’s line lost most of its starters. Ethan Hubbard (RT) and Kenton Jerido (C) are the veterans. Week 1 vs an FCS team they still ran for 241, so the committee can function. How it matches Tulane this week Tulane just allowed 227 rushing yards and 2 TDs to Nate Sheppard on 35 carries. Edge setting and run fits were a problem in Durham. That is exactly what Applewhite will try to exploit: inside zone, duo, QB keepers, and a three-back rotation that does not let the Wave pin its ears back. Last year USA had 190 rush yards and 421 total on Tulane and still lost because they went scoreless in the second and third quarters. The script they want Saturday: 1. Establish Martin/Phillips/Dunbar early so Davenport can keep and throw play-action. 2. Get Jenkins and Eager involved on timing throws, Davenport’s comfort zone. 3. Avoid the mid-game stall that killed them in Mobile. What South Alabama’s defense was last year The 2025 Jaguars allowed 30.4 points (110th nationally) and 176.6 rushing yards per game at 4.8 yards per carry. They could not get to the quarterback. Vs Tulane they gave up 241 rushing yards and three rushing TDs on 45 carries. Jake Retzlaff and Zuberi Mobley ran through them. Pass defense was more respectable (205 ypg), but the front never consistently collapsed the pocket. They also lost pieces that now wear green: Ed Smith IV and Dalton Hughes transferred to Tulane. Starters Blayne Myrick, Darius McKenzie, and Wesley Miller are gone too. What it is this year: New DC Todd Orlando (USF the last three years; coached with Applewhite at Houston). He is not running last year’s “keep it in front of you” 4-2-5 as a religion. He said the package will be multiple four-man/three-man, nickel, dime fitted to personnel, and more attacking. Co-DC Jason Washington still runs the corners. Front and edge: This was the weakest group on paper after the portal purge. Returning: Stephen Johnson (NT), Emmanuel Waller, Tyler Carter, E’Mauri Smiley. Portal help: Mase Lewis (McNeese), Christian Ross (Holy Cross), Dylan Chiedo (Furman). Tirrell Johnson is the hybrid/edge they lean on (54 tackles, 5 TFL last year). Week 1 they had only one sack vs SE Louisiana. Linebackers: Tirrell Johnson, Tre’Mon Henry, Parker Shattuck, Seidrion Langston (ULM transfer), Kaydon Degraffenreid, Caleb Dozier. This room is supposed to be the stabilizer while the line develops. Secondary: More continuity here. Jayvon Henderson (CB), Cole Blaylock (S), Dallas Young (FS), Damyrion Darby. Portal: Jaylen Moson (Utah) and DJ Moore (Georgia Tech). Week 1 both Darby and Moson got interceptions on SELA’s first couple of series. Week 1 tape (vs SE Louisiana) Held SELA to 231 yards, 45 rushing yards, and 0-for-7 on third down. Two interceptions, one sack. Possession was 40:09–19:51 because the offense sat on the ball, but the defense also never let SELA convert. The caveat: SELA’s two scores were both four-play explosives. When they could not hit a chunk play, they went nowhere. That is the binary Orlando’s group imposed, score fast or punt. It will not be that easy against an FBS offense that can motion TEs and superbacks. The game within the game for USA’s D: 1. Run fits vs a broken ground game. Last year they could not stop Tulane’s run. If Orlando’s front stays gap-sound, Semonza is forced into obvious passing downs, which is when a blitz-happy DC wants to live. 2. Blitz vs Semonza’s timing. Semonza gets the ball out faster than Chriss. Hall will use motion, TEs (Dawson Johnson, Vance Bolyard), and the superback (Jaylin Lucas) to muddy hot reads. If USA sends extra and does not get there, Hill and the intermediate game can eat. 3. Explosives. SELA beat them twice with quick-strike TDs. Hill and CJ Lewis already showed they can take one. USA cannot give up that same shot and survive if Tulane’s offense finally finishes a drive. #RollWave Make sure to follow Patrick Harkness on X

Kam Hamilton is an immediate veteran upgrade for a Tulane D-line that lost its entire 2025 CFP starting front. The 6-4, 292-pound Zachary product just returned as a fifth-year player after going undrafted and is already in the rotation. Eligibility was confirmed about an hour before kickoff. The eligibility path Hamilton never redshirted. He graduated in May 2026 after four seasons and was auto-enrolled in the 2026 NFL Draft. He worked out with the Saints and Cardinals but did not sign. A new NCAA five-year eligibility rule did not grandfather the 2022 class, so he needed the injunction. The American Conference also stated that NFL tryouts would not trigger a penalty. Tulane will not be punished if the ruling is later overturned. Tulane was the only FBS school that offered him out of Zachary High, where he started on the offensive line for the 15-0 2021 LHSAA 5A state champions before switching to defense. Production and traits Career totals through 2025 (54 games, 22-23 starts): • 90 tackles • 12 sacks • 16.5 tackles for loss • 3 forced fumbles • 3 passes defended Year-by-year: • 2022 (FR): 15 tackles, 0.5 sacks • 2023 (SO): 25 tackles, 4 sacks, 6 TFL, 1 FF • 2024 (JR): 21 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 6 TFL, 2 FF, 9 starts, third-team All-AAC • 2025 (SR): 29 tackles, 3 sacks, 4 TFL, 3 PD, 13 starts He is listed as a DE but he can play inside or outside. Strength and awareness are his calling cards; he occupies blockers and still produces sacks and TFLs from the interior. What the 2026 D-line needed: The 2025 starting four from the Ole Miss CFP game are gone: Hamilton was expected to be with the Saints, Harvey Dyson transferred to NC State, Santana Hopper to Colorado, and Tre’Von McAlpine to Kansas. Preseason pieces were transfers Derrick Shepard Jr. (NT, experienced after a 2025 UAB-to-Tulane move) and Ed Smith IV (DT from South Alabama) plus a young rotation (Josh Lewis, Reshad Sterling, Geordan Guidry, Armondous Cooley, Jordyn Crites, PaLanding Drammeh). The room was described as talented and deep but inexperienced. They rotate heavily. Duke exposed the run defense (250 rushing yards, Nate Sheppard 227). What he specifically adds • Experience and leadership in a young room under new DL coach Eric McDaniel. Shepard and Smith IV were the main veterans; Hamilton is the guy with the most Tulane snaps and starts. • Interior run-stopping presence. Size and strength to occupy double teams so linebackers (Dickson Agu, Chris Rodgers, Makai Williams) and the bandit (Jah’rie Garner) can flow. This was the biggest Week 1 need. • Pass-rush from inside. Consistent 3-4.5 sack seasons give the front another interior threat instead of relying only on edges. • Scheme versatility in Tulane’s 4-2-5 / multiple looks under DC Tayler Polk and co-DC Nate Fuqua. He can two-gap or one-gap depending on alignment. • Culture and motivation. Local product who overcame a hearing impairment, just missed the NFL, and is playing for a fifth year on an injunction. Will Hall’s comment after the Duke game: “I think he can help us a lot.” He is not a flashy edge rusher who will post 10-sack seasons. He is a high-floor, high-motor 292-pound interior piece who knows the program, already knows the calls, and immediately improves the rotation quality on a front that needed exactly that after the 2025 attrition. Expect him to stay in the two-deep mix at DT for the rest of the season. #RollWave Make sure to follow Patrick Harkness on X

Louisiana Tech wins opener against Northwestern State 80-6, setting multiple new program records.

The stage was set. After months of talk and build up, it was time to play football. Unfortunately, mother nature had other plans. For 9 months, LSU fans had waited patiently as folks around the country criticize their coach, national media discussed integrity with the “professional player” saga, and so on. They were faced with one more test. A nearly 2 hour lightening delay dumped water across the entire stadium. As most fans ran for cover, the student section remained. Belting out Purple Rain from the top of their lungs as the heavens opened up, they weren’t letting anything slow them down. Eventually, the skies cleared and the 90-minute warmup countdown began. As the crowd filled the stadium, there was a pop of cheers for every position group that jogged on to the field to stretch and warm up. It didn’t matter who it was, Tiger fans were anxious to see their team back on the field. The band took the field to play pregame, the National Anthem was sung, Lane Kiffin led his team through the tunnel for the first time, and FINALLY, it was time for football. LSU’s offense was first to take the field to open the Lane Kiffin era. After a quick 8-yard pass from Sam Leavitt to Eugene Wilson III, Malik Elzy had a pass bounce off of his hands right in to the waiting arms of Ashton Hampton and two plays in to the game, Clemson had a takeaway. Blake Baker’s defense faced an immediate test back at their own 33-yard line. They picked up right where they left off in 2025 with a 3-and-out, forcing a 49 yard field goal attempt. Nolan Hauser drilled it and Clemson struck first to take a 3-0 lead. The only returning wide receiver from last year’s roster, Phillip Wright III, took the ensuing kickoff for a solid return, but a holding penalty brought the Tigers back to their own 10 yard line. Leavitt went straight to work, taking the ball 59 yards to the Clemson 31-yard line before facing a 3 rd down. A batted pass forced an incompletion and LSU would have to settle for a field goal attempt of their own. Scott Starzyk nailed his first attempt as a Tiger from 49 yards to tie the game at 3-3. After Christopher Vizzina hit Bryant Wesco Jr for a quick 22-yard pass to start their drive, the Tiger defense stiffened back up. Clemson had a short 3 rd and 2, but Whit Weeks shot out of a cannon around the edge for a tackle for loss and force the first punt of the game. There was much speculation about who would get the first crack at punt returner and it turned out to be Wilson III, who secured a fair catch at the LSU 11-yard line. Dilin Jones started the next drive with 3 straight runs that picked up a couple of first downs and 22 total yards. Just a few plays later, he capped off a 12-play, 89 yard drive with a 1-yard plunge in to the endzone for the first LSU touchdown of the season and a 10-3 lead. Clemson was facing a 3 rd and 6 to start their ensuing drive and that’s when all hell broke loose. Defensive end transfer, Jordan Ross, dropped back in to coverage and baited Vizzina in to an interception. He made a few moves and took it to the house to set it off in Death Valley. The crowd pop was so loud, it registered as a small earthquake on campus. In the blink of an eye, a 3-3 game turned in to a 17-3 LSU lead. Clemson followed with another 3 and out, giving LSU pretty good field position at their own 34 yard line. Facing a 4 th and 3 on Clemson’s 30, Kiffin surprised many by opting for the field goal attempt instead of going for it. Unfortunately, Starzyk pushed his 48-yard attempt wide right. After another 3 and out, LSU took over and went on an 8-play, 72-yard drive to get back in to the endzone on a drive in which Leavitt took over. He had completions of 20 and 18 yards, then runs of 18 and 8 yards with the latter being a scramble around the edge or a touchdown to make it 24-3. Clemson’s next two drives also resulted in 3 and outs, with an LSU punt sandwiched between them. With the ball right at midfield, Leavitt and the Tigers took over with just 2:46 left in the half. Winston Watkins made his second 20+ yard catch of the quarter, taking a 27 yard reception down in to the red zone. Once again, Leavitt finished off the drive with back-to-back runs, including a 13-yarder with a nifty stretch of the ball to cross the goal line and give his team a 31-3 lead. True freshman, Tait Reynolds, entered the game for Clemson, but nothing changed as Princewill Umanmielen’s first sack as a Tiger helped lead to the 6 th punt of the first half for Swinney’s team. Once the second half started, it did not take long for their 7 th punt. With Reynolds still in the game, he completed an 11-yard pass to start the drive. Clemson immediately went backwards, though, thanks to Ross’s first sack as a Tiger, setting up the punt. A holding call on the first play of LSU’s next drive put them in a 1 st and 20 hole, but as it was all night, Leavitt’s legs bailed them out. Facing a 3 rd and 5, Charlie Weis Jr dialed up a beautifully executed misdirection play that left Watkins wide open for a 32-yard touchdown reception to make it a 38-3 game. After another Clemson punt, LSU’s offensive starters came out for what would be their final drive. A 32-yard pass to Jackson Harris kicked off the drive, which lasted just 6 plays for 78 yards, capped off by Jones’s second touchdown run of the night from 12 yards out. Kiffin kept the offense on the field for a 2-point attempt, but Leavitt’s options were covered and he took a sack. Their debut was over with a 44-3 lead and 3:24 left in the 3 rd quarter. Although a mental mistake by Malik Blocton gave Clemson a free 15 yards to start their next drive with a late hit on Reynolds, they still could not find any success. Their 9 th punt of the night gave LSU the ball with 1:52 seconds left in the 3 rd quarter. Landen Clark took the field to lead the offense and made his first completion as a Tiger to Jayce Brown for 14 yards. He had them driving down the field but a fumbled snap on a direct snap to Stacy Gage on a 3 rd and 2 backed LSU up to the Clemson 39-yard line, forcing only the second Grant Chadwick punt of the night. Vizzina came back in at quarterback from Clemson, but it was more of the same. They had another 3 and out, forcing their 10 th and final punt of the game. Harlem Berry made his first appearance for LSU on his next drive, but it was another returning Tiger that made the big play. Clark threw a short pass to Phillip Wright III, who turned the corner and hit the jets down the sideline for a 30-yard touchdown. It was remarkable that he was able to stay in bounds, a testament to his speed and athleticism. That was a glimpse of why he was the only wide receiver that Kiffin and the staff brought back from 2025’s roster. The score would be LSU’s final of the night, making it a 51-3 game.  Blake Baker finally called off the dogs, putting in his 3’s. That resulted in an 8 play, 71 yard drive that was capped off by a David Eziomume 11-yard touchdown for Clemson. Husan Longstreet entered the game for the Tigers for the final drive and despite the big lead, Kiffin actually let him throw the ball. He and Wright III connected on a nice 33-yard pitch and catch on the left sideline. Caden Durham also made his debut on that drive. The clock mercifully ran out and LSU had defeated Clemson 51-10.

Colonels and Vaqueros enter Saturday at 1-1 after experiencing both ends of the spectrum through the first two weeks of the season

Mississippi State sets new offensive record with 762 yard performance

Week one is in the books for the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns, as they opened the season with a 38-7 win over the Lamar Cardinals at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium in Lafayette on Saturday. Louisiana scored five touchdowns, all on the ground, as the Cajuns put together a strong rushing performance and took advantage of a struggling Lamar defense to produce methodical scoring drives throughout the game. The Renewed Running Game Looks Strong One of the biggest questions surrounding the Cajuns this offseason was who would lead the running back room following the departures of Zylan Perry and Bill Davis. There wasn't a clear answer coming into today, or even a guarantee that Louisiana could replace the talent of that duo. But Coach Michael Desormeaux and company remained confident in the depth of the room. Redshirt freshman Darrell Smith, redshirt sophomore Steven Blanco, redshirt freshman JJ Garner and junior Anthony Reagan Jr. were all listed on the depth chart as starters, and that depth showed today. The Cajuns finished with 243 rushing yards, with all four backs contributing. Darrell Smith was the standout, leading the group with 84 yards on 10 carries and two touchdowns. Coach Des chose Smith to get the start, and he made a strong case that the job could be his to keep. Quarterback Lunch Winfield also played a big role in the running game, carrying eight times for 84 yards and a touchdown. Blanco, Garner and Reagan Jr. combined for another 75 yards, with Blanco and Reagan Jr. each finding the end zone. Overall, the Cajuns looked much better on the ground than many might have expected, including myself. Credit also goes to the offensive line, a group that mostly remained firmly intact from last season, who helped consistently open up gaps for the backs to run through all night. The Passing Game Still Has Questions The passing game was supposed to be one of the biggest storylines coming into this game. Louisiana entered the season without a returning wide receiver who had eclipsed 100 receiving yards in a game last season outside of Shelton Sampson Jr., so the big question was who would step up alongside him. We got somewhat of an answer, but there are still plenty of questions. Sampson Jr. wasn't able to finish the game after leaving early in the first quarter with what appeared to be an ankle injury. Given the injuries he's dealt with over the past year, his health is something to monitor closely. Last season showed how much of a difference it makes when Sampson Jr. is healthy and on the field. The Cajuns' leading receiver wasn't even a wide receiver. Redshirt sophomore tight end Caden Jensen caught five passes for 77 yards and came up with several important plays that helped Louisiana move the ball. Unfortunately, Coach Des told the media that Jensen also wasn't able to finish the game because of an undisclosed injury. So, you're down your best receiver and your best tight end. Now what? One name we may hear a lot more this season is redshirt junior wide receiver KeDarius Wade. He finished with three receptions for 64 yards and led all Louisiana wide receivers in receiving yards. It is not an eye-opening number, but Wade was open when the Cajuns needed him to be. Redshirt freshman Trenton Chaney also added three catches for 34 yards, while redshirt sophomore tight end Teddy Gawlik, who replaced Jensen following his injury, had 22 receiving yards. Outside of those names, there wasn't a whole lot of production through the air. We did not see an offensive touchdown being thrown by either team. What was concerning to me is that when it came to passing, UL either relied heavily on tight ends to move the ball vertically down the field, or used screen plays to wide receivers and running backs to gain "passing" yards. Other than a couple of great routes by KeDarius Wade, there wasn't many significant vertical threat opportunities posed to Lamar by wide receivers. Lunch Winfield and the Cajuns need playmakers on the perimeter to step up. We knew coming into this game that the wide receiver room was thin and needed to prove itself, and a matchup against a "lesser" opponent seemed like the perfect opportunity to do that. Instead, we're heading into week two with many of the same questions. Defense Does Its Job Defensively, UL looked strong for most of the game. Sophomore cornerback Brent Gordon Jr. had himself a night, finishing with seven tackles, including one for loss, and an interception at the goal line. Lamar was knocking on the door of what could have been its only offensive touchdown, but Gordon Jr. came up with the play UL needed. Up front, the Cajuns shut down Lamar's rushing attack, allowing just 56 yards on the ground at under two yards per carry. Lamar quarterback Aiden McCown was also intercepted three times. There were a couple of drives where Lamar moved the ball well, particularly through the air, but Louisiana did a good job of getting stops when it mattered. The Cardinals reached the red zone only once and were eventually forced to attempt a 35-yard field goal, which hit the left upright and missed. Cornerback Avery Demery also recorded a sack on that drive to help slow Lamar's momentum. Lamar's only touchdown came on a pick-six thrown by redshirt sophomore quarterback Daniel Beale, who replaced Winfield in the fourth quarter because of the lopsided score. Beale tried to hit JJ Garner on a screen, a play Coach Des said was poorly drawn up on his end. Beale did get some revenge, though, leading a nine-minute, methodical drive in the fourth quarter down to the Lamar 14-yard line before the Cajuns settled for a field goal. Lunch Winfield also threw two interceptions in this game. The first came in the second quarter after a receiver made a route mistake. The second came in the third quarter when Winfield threw a jump ball toward Jensen that was underthrown and intercepted by Lamar's Jarrett Mitchel. Final Takeaways Louisiana did what it needed to do in week one: control the ball, avoid falling behind and slow down Lamar's offense. There were mistakes, especially early with the rain making things sloppy, but the Cajuns had firm control of this game thanks to their rushing attack and defensive play. The biggest question now is the passing game. Who is going to step up at wide receiver? Can the Cajuns keep producing through the air if Sampson Jr. is unavailable? And now, with Jensen also dealing with an injury, who steps up at tight end? Those are questions Louisiana will need answered quickly. It's a good start to the season, and a much needed one considering what's coming next. The Cajuns now turn their heads to week two as they prepare to travel to Los Angeles and take on the 14th nationally ranked USC Trojans next week in a 10pm CT matchup on the Big Ten Network. That's a completely different challenge which we'll preview on Thursday.