The 1-0 Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns are making a big trip to the West Coast this weekend to face the 14th nationally-ranked and 2-0 USC Trojans in Los Angeles. The game is set for an 8pm kickoff (10pm Louisiana time) at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Louisiana comes into this game fresh off a convincing 38-7 win over Lamar. The Cajuns looked great defensively, forcing three interceptions and a fumble, while using a strong ground attack to score five touchdowns against the Cardinals. Needless to say, that performance came against an FCS opponent, albeit a good one who entered that game ranked 14th in the FCS rankings. Now, Louisiana turns its attention to a really talented USC program that has its sights set on a national championship run. USC has also had its fair share of success to start the year, defeating San Jose State 42-26 before shutting out Fresno State 39-0 last week. The biggest story for the Trojans so far has been quarterback Jayden Maiava, who through two games leads all FBS quarterbacks with 635 passing yards. He has thrown five touchdowns without an interception and has completed 89% of his passes, going 48-of-54 up to this point. This will no doubt be a tough test for the Cajuns. Playing a top-15 team that has been on fire offensively is not an easy task, especially for a UL team that will come into this game somewhat shorthanded. Top Receivers Out with Injuries Louisiana will be without starting wide receiver Shelton Sampson Jr., who rolled up his ankle in last week’s season opener. Starting slot receiver Trenton Chaney, a redshirt freshman out of Lutcher High School, has also been ruled out against USC with a rolled-up ankle. Starting tight end Caden Jensen, who was Louisiana’s leading receiver last week, will also be out and is expected to miss at least a couple of weeks. Brock Chappell, a talented tight end who missed last week’s game, will return and step in for Jensen on Saturday night. Replacing Sampson Jr. at the X position will be Kristion Brooks, a true freshman out of Zachary. Redshirt freshman Russell Babineaux out of Lafayette will start at the slot position, with KeDarius Wade at the Z position. All three players saw reps last week, with Wade hauling in three catches for 64 yards. Nonetheless, this is still a very young receiving corps. It’s good that they were able to get a game under their belts last week and get some of those game-day jitters out of the way, but having USC as the next matchup certainly doesn’t make things any easier. UL’s success through the air against Lamar primarily came with the help of its tight ends, along with utilizing the short screen passing game. It’s hard to imagine we see much more than that against USC with such a young receiving corps. USC’s defense had a great outing last week against Fresno State, limiting the Bulldogs to just 77 yards through the air and 39 yards on the ground. Can UL Capitalize on the Ground? One of the big highlights that came out of last week's win by UL was a strong performance in the running game. All five touchdowns came on the ground via four different players as the Cajuns rushed for 243 yards. What appears to be a really good running back room with Darrell Smith, Anthony Reagan Jr., JJ Garner and Steven Blanco will likely have to be the workhorse for this Cajuns offense in the meantime until the passing game can get settled. It will be a challenge, however, as USC has limited its opponents to just 70 rushing yards per game so far this season. The Trojans’ defensive linemen aren’t necessarily any bigger than Louisiana’s, but they play physical and fast. They also have a strong linebacker corps led by Deven Bryant, who leads the team in tackles, along with Jadyn Walker and Desman Stephens II. It will be a tall task running against this Trojans defense, but with the options UL has at running back, they won't be shorthanded, that's for sure. Keys to the Game Be perfect. There’s really no other way to put it. Coach Michael Desormeaux has emphasized this in his press conferences over the last few days. If the Cajuns want to have a shot at making this a competitive game, or even creating what would be the biggest upset victory in UL history, they have to be perfect in all phases. That means another great performance in the running game similar to last week, along with seeing a decent amount of improvement through the air. As I said earlier, if last week was any indication, UL has the running back room to create some havoc. Darrell Smith was nicked up a bit earlier this week following the Lamar game, but he’s all set to go Saturday night. He, Reagan Jr. and the other backs in the room should be capable of putting together another good performance as long as the offensive line allows for it. It will be a tall task against a good USC defense, but this group knows they’re capable. A good rotation throughout the game should keep them healthy and the USC defense on their heels a little bit. Passing game-wise, Louisiana needs to be to create some vertical threats. We didn’t really see much of that last week, and if anything, some of the biggest plays downfield came from the tight ends. With Brock Chappell stepping in for Caden Jensen, UL can still rely on its tight ends while also utilizing the short, quick passing game with its speedy receivers on the perimeter, which is what appears to be the focus for this passing game early on this season. San Jose State quarterback Luke Weaver threw for over 230 yards against USC in week “zero,” with the Spartans using the short passing game to put up 26 points. So there should be opportunities for Louisiana to move the football through the air if they can execute correctly and effectively. Defensively, it’ll require a lot of discipline, perfect assignments and consistency if the Cajuns want to slow down Maiava. He has yet to really be slowed down this season. If Louisiana can generate some pressure, make him uncomfortable and force a turnover or two, that could go a long way toward keeping this game within reach. Like I said earlier, though, just about everything needs to go right for UL to have a legitimate chance at biting into this game. When it comes to size, USC doesn't have monsters compared to the Cajuns. They win games through their speed and physicality, and the winner of this game will be determined based on whose players does it better. Final Prediction: USC 38, Louisiana 13 This will be a tall task for the Cajuns. They’re making a long trip to the West Coast and playing late at night against a top-15 team with a high-powered offense that has looked almost unstoppable so far, along with a defense that has done a good job of keeping opponents at bay. It’s hard to imagine UL can be “perfect,” as Coach Des has emphasized, when you’re down multiple starting receivers and still haven’t proven you can consistently move the ball through the air, even against an FCS opponent. The ground game proved to be Louisiana’s biggest strength last week, but now they’re facing one of the best run defenses in college football through the first two weeks of the season. The good news is that Louisiana’s offensive line is fully healthy, and so is the entire defense. Both groups had good outings last week, especially the defense as they didn't allow a single point to be scored. With that said, I think UL can get into the red zone a couple of times and come away with a rushing touchdown or two. Defensively, I also think the Cajuns can create enough resistance to keep USC from scoring more than 40 points and letting it get out of hand really quickly. At the end of the day, UL running backs coach Marquase Lovings said it best: both teams consist of humans who are going to put on pads and play a football game, so anything can happen. This is why we play the game on the field and not on paper. However, these are two programs playing at two different levels of talent with two completely different end goals for this season. It will quite literally take a near-perfect game for the Cajuns to have a shot at pulling this one off, and Cajuns fans know that. In the end, we all hope this so-called “money game” for Louisiana ends with very minimal injuries and that everyone comes back healthy and ready to go for next week’s home matchup against UAB. It sure would be sweet if the Cajuns could come home with a victory as well, but keeping injuries at bay would go a long way this season. 

Saturday, September 12, 2026 6:00 p.m. CT Yulman Stadium ESPN+ Last year’s meeting in Mobile ended 33-31 Tulane in a sloppy, high-scoring slugfest. This one is a rematch at home after both programs turned over pieces and Tulane just got punched in the mouth at Duke. Can the Green Wave Re-Group? Roll Dat Wave Pod w/ @greenwavecolin drops today! Tulane Green Wave: Enters Year 1 of the Will Hall era after an ugly 17-3 loss at Duke. First time since 2019 the Wave did not score a touchdown. Hall already flipped the quarterback. Kadin Semonza starts Saturday. Zeon Chriss-Gremillion, who won camp and started Week 1, is the backup. That standard does not reset just because Week 1 was sloppy. Roster reality after Durham: The offense gained 258 yards and 3 points. The run game produced 54 yards. Fumble in the red zone. Holding and mental penalties killed drives. Hall called it a “really dumb” performance and compared it to last year’s UTSA tape. What remains is still Tulane culture, a loaded backfield if Jamauri McClure (foot) is ready after sitting Duke, and a WR room that should be more explosive than it showed Saturday. Hill had 5-67. Anthony Brown-Stephens and Zycarl Lewis Jr. are the next layer. The line has to give Semonza a clean pocket and play disciplined. Reese Baker is the veteran. The rest of that front is still proving it. Semonza is the proven passer. Ball State MAC Freshman of the Year in 2024 (2,904 yards, 25 TDs). He is not Chriss as a designed-run threat. He is the timing thrower Hall wants if the Wave stay ahead of the chains. South Alabama Jaguars: Year 3 under Major Applewhite (11-14 in two seasons). He is calling the offense himself. New DC Todd Orlando (USF the last three years, previously with Applewhite at Houston). They are 1-0 after burying SE Louisiana 39-14 (FCS). Identity is volume run: 59 carries, 241 yards, three rushing TDs. Bishop Davenport is still the quarterback, same guy who nearly beat Tulane last September (17-of-24, 231 yards, 2 passing TDs, 63 rush, 1 rushing TD). The RB committee: PJ Martin (Nola product) 18-69-1 Keenan Phillips 13-66 Trae’von Dunbar 13-60-1 Kentrel Bullock is gone. Devin Voisin, who gashed Tulane for 8-152-2 last year, is gone. Brendan Jenkins (5-78-1 vs SELA) and Anthony Eager have to replace that juice. USA is healthier and already has a win. Tulane has the building, the standard, and a chip after Durham. Both teams have holes. Both have questions that need answers Saturday night. Tulane’s identity has to be (physical, complementary, and clean football) is more established. South Alabama has a script if the Wave front does not set the edge/penetrate/pressure. South Alabama offense vs Tulane defense: Applewhite’s offense is multiple-spread that wants to run first, stay on schedule, and live short-to-intermediate. They do not take many deep shots. Last year they ranked 121st in pass attempts per game. Week 1 they rushed 59 times. Davenport is efficient when he is completing 70%+. When he dips, USA went 0-7 last year. He is a throw-on-the-run, keep-it-alive quarterback, not a 60-yard bomber. Backup is Jared Hollins. The line lost most of its starters. Ethan Hubbard (RT) and Kenton Jerido (C) are the veterans. Against FCS they still ran for 241. Against Tulane last year they had 190 rush yards and 421 total and still lost because they went scoreless in the second and third quarters. Tulane’s attacking 4-2-5 under Tayler Polk and co-DC Nate Fuqua is built to take away the easy stuff, attack the QB, and force third-and-long. That unit just allowed Nate Sheppard 227 yards and 2 TDs on 35 carries. Edge setting and run fits were the 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. Safety Jack Tchienchou is still the defensive leader. Linebackers Dickson Agu and Chris Rodgers and the front (Ed Smith IV who came from USA, Derrick Shepard Jr, young ends and the potential RETURN of Kam Hamilton) have to plug the middle, set the edge against Martin/Phillips/Dunbar, and keep Davenport from settling. Keep an eye on true freshman Jordyn Crites at the DT spot, I could see him having a huge game. Kevin Adams III had 11 tackles at Duke. The secondary can hunt if it is third-and-7+. Last year USA put up 421 yards and still lost because they stalled for two full quarters. Do not let them get the same first-quarter jump they got in Mobile (14-0). Not sure how this offense will function playing behind. The Wave defense does not have to be perfect. It has to be assignment-sound on first and second down and opportunistic on third. X Factor: D-Line create havoc. South Alabama defense vs Tulane Offense: Hall and Russ Callaway will run a West Coast-flavored attack that still wants to run the ball and use play-action. Semonza is not Retzlaff. He does not have to throw 40 times. He has to keep the chains moving, hit Destyn Hill, Anthony Brown-Stephens, and Zycarl Lewis Jr. when USA overcommits to the run, and protect the football. The offensive line is the swing unit again. Reese Baker is the only returning starter from last year’s CFP front. Transfers and young players have to hold up at home against an Orlando front that is multiple and more attacking than last year’s “keep it in front of you” 4-2-5. If McClure is limited or out, Lucas / Turner / Daniels have to carry the load. Johnnie Daniels led the Wave with 31 yards on 8 carries at Duke. That is not enough. Tight ends Dawson Johnson and Vance Bolyard, plus the F TE package (Ty Thompson), give Hall another way to protect and create mismatches. They have to be more involved. USA defense last year: 30.4 points allowed (110th), 176.6 rush yards at 4.8 a clip. They could not get to the quarterback. Vs Tulane they gave up 241 rushing yards and three rushing TDs. Retzlaff and Zuberi Mobley ran through them. This year Orlando is not running that same religion. Multiple four-man / three-man, nickel, dime. Co-DC Jason Washington still runs the corners. The front is the weakest group on paper after the portal. Week 1 they had 2 sacks vs SELA. They did intercept two and held SELA to 0-for-7 on third down, with the caveat that SELA is FCS and scored twice on four-play explosives. They also lost pieces that now wear green: Ed Smith IV and Dalton Hughes. If Orlando’s front stays gap-sound, Semonza is forced into obvious passing downs, which is when a blitz-happy DC wants to live. If they send extra and do not get there, Hill and the intermediate game can eat. Last year they were undisciplined enough in Mobile that Tulane still found 241 on the ground. If they play cleaner and win early downs, they can put Semonza in obvious passing situations. If they overpursue the run the way they did a year ago, the Wave backs and play-action will make them pay. X Factor: Clean Football and this game should work in Tulane’s favor. South Alabama Jaguars @ Tulane Green Wave: Overall and Three keys to victory for Tulane On paper this one shouldn’t be even close, in Tulane’s favor. South Alabama is 1-0, healthier, and already has the run-game tape they want. Tulane is the deserved favorite on paper (home field, talent, last year’s result) and the better bet to play a complete, complementary game in Week 2 . Home crowd Better roster Mardi Gras Jersey The Wave do not need to out-talent South Alabama. They need to out-execute them for 60 minutes and finish drives they left on the field in Durham. Three keys for Tulane: 1. Set the edge and make the committee earn everything. Martin, Phillips, and Dunbar are not Sheppard. If they gouge early, Davenport gets easy play-action and the Wave defense spends the night in the middle of the field. Set the edge, tackle in space, force USA into third-and-7+. That is when Tchienchou and the secondary hunt. 2. Let Semonza be efficient without turning it over. He does not have to be Retzlaff 2.0. He has to stay on schedule, take what Orlando gives him, and protect the football. One or two completed drives that end in the end zone change how USA has to play the rest of the night. Ball security is non-negotiable in a home opener after a 3-point road loss. 3. Win the line of scrimmage (clean) and stay out of obvious passing downs. The reloaded Wave offensive line does not have to dominate. It has to give Semonza a clean pocket on early downs and create enough push for Lucas / Turner / Daniels / McClure (if healthy) to keep Orlando honest. Third-and-long against a disguised, blitz-happy front is where this game can get away. Stay ahead of the chains, convert a couple of third-and-mediums, and the clock becomes Tulane’s friend in the fourth quarter. Yulman will be loud. South Alabama will have moments. They almost stole this game a year ago. Play complementary and clean football, finish in the red zone, tackle like a welder is on your sister, and take the home opener. #RollWave Make sure to follow Patrick Harkness on X

After the 9-month wait for the Lane Kiffin era to finally begin at LSU, the season finally kicked off and LSU found themselves on the good side of a blowout over Clemson. The dust has settled and the season is underway as we go full steam ahead towards week 2. The now 1-0 Tigers will welcome in Louisiana Tech for the second consecutive year. The Bulldogs jumpstarted their season with an even bigger blowout, defeating Northwestern State 80-6 to start their campaign 1-0. Sonny Cumbie’s squad gave the Tigers quite the battle when they came to Tiger Stadium in week 2 of the 2025 season. LSU struggled to get much going, only defeating LA Tech by a final score of 23-7. The Bulldogs went on to finish the regular season with a record of 7-5, before defeating Coastal Carolina at home in Shreveport in the Independence Bowl. While the differences are vast for LSU, much is the same for LA Tech. Cumby, a disciple of the late Mike Leach, is in his 5 th season with the program as head coach. Offensive coordinator, Nathan Young, has been on staff serving as their offensive line coach since 2022, but was promoted to take over for the 2026 season. LA Tech enters week 2 ranked 29 th in total offense with their 528 yards last week. Their 80 points have them ranked 1 st in scoring offense. Going back to last year, they ranked 88 th in total offense with an average of 359.2 yards per game and 71 st in scoring with 27.3 points per game. They’ll face off with an LSU defense that comes in ranked 11 th in total defense after allowing only 145 yards against Clemson and 46 th in scoring with the 10 points allowed. Luke Olson enters his second season as the defensive coordinator, running his unusual 3-3-5 defense. The Bulldogs rank 10 th in total defense with 129 yards allowed in week 1 and T-21 st with the 6 points allowed. Back in 2025, they ranked 68 th in total defense by allowing 374.8 yards per game and 35 th in scoring with 20.8 points per game. On the other side, Charlie Weis Jr’s offense is ranked 11 th with 644 yards last week and T-27 th with 51 points scored. LSU Offense vs LA Tech Defense Passing Game The passing game got off to a bit of a slow start with Sam Leavitt and his receivers against Clemson, but as the game progressed, it got cleaned up. There were multiple batted passes and the tip drill off of Malik Elzy’s hands that led to the interception on the second play of the game. The pass protection could also see some improvement, which would help prevent so much scrambling out of the pocket. Winnie Watkins, Trey’Dez Green, and Phillip Wright III were the first few pass-catchers to emerge with good nights. LSU enters with the 26 th ranked passing offense with 335 total yards including what Landen Clark and Husan Longstreet added. Although the Bulldog pass defense was solid against Northwestern St and come in T-4 th with only 43 yards allowed, it was a struggle in 2025. They ranked 107 th in the country with 240.3 yards per game allowed. Linebacker Jadon Mayfield is the returning leader in sacks with just 3.5 a year ago. Defensive end Donovan Rieman is next behind him with 2.5. The secondary is full of new starters. Free safety MJ Moultrie II is the only of the five that started more than 2 games a year ago. He started in 12 with Hampton and has the most production with 64 tackles, 2 interceptions, and 3 pass breakups. Sam Fongang will play aside Moultrie II at free safety and then the Bulldogs play in base nickel with 3 cornerbacks. Amari Butler, Kameron Carter, and Jordan McRae all enter their second season in the program, but have had limited opportunities until this year. They most important aspect of this game for the passing offense is Leavitt and his receivers locking down some better timing. They were a bit off at times last week, which is understandable considering none of them have ever played together and Leavitt was working his way back from foot surgery during the offseason, limiting their practice time together until fall camp. The opportunities should be there against an inexperienced secondary. Expect to see Weis Jr attempt more down field passes, which will force the offensive line to protect their quarterback. Running Game What can’t be said about Dilin Jones last Saturday? He was a beast, carrying the ball 23 times for 113 yards and 2 touchdowns. His most impressive stat was the 99 yards after contact. Stacy Gage was the first running back in to the game behind Jones, so it will be interesting to see if that continues moving forward or do individual gameplans call for more Harlem Berry and Caden Durham. Leavitt added 113 yards rushing, mostly on scrambles, looking like he was playing backyard football. The 309 yards rushing against Clemson ranked the Tigers 13 th in rushing offense. Despite the 80-6 blowout, LA Tech gave up more rushing yards than you may have expected. They come in ranked 48 th after allowing 86 yards on the ground. That ranking is pretty spot on with where they were a year ago, giving up 134.5 yards per game on the ground as the 47 th best rushing defense. Look for Zheric Hill, Jadon Mayfield, and Grayson Hardy to be heavily involved against the run. The three combined for 17 tackles a week ago, despite playing limited snaps once the game got out of hand. Of the returners from 2025, Mayfield led the way with 61 tackles and 9.0 for loss. Kiffin and Weis Jr are always going to run the ball. It’s their bread and butter and it’s what helps set up the beautifully drawn up passing plays that open up the entire field. It’s clear that Jones is the guy, so expect much more of him. With massive games to follow in week 3 and 4, I would expect to see more Berry and Durham in this one. Neither of them entered the game until the 4 th quarter against Clemson, but they are likely to be counted on against the Bulldogs. The question will be whether LA Tech decides to replace their nickel corner with an extra down lineman or linebacker if they are getting manhandled in the trenches by the LSU offensive line. LSU Defense vs LA Tech Offense Passing Game Blake Baker’s defense sent Christopher Vizzina and Tait Reynolds home having nightmares. LSU recorded 4 sacks and 5 more QB hits, along with constant pressure all night. Princewill Umanmielen and Jordan Ross lived in the backfield, combining for 2.5 of the sacks and showing why Kiffin brought them in from the transfer portal. The chaos in the backfield made the jobs of PJ Woodland and DJ Pickett easy, each only having to record 2 tackles. The 105 yards allowed have them ranked 25 th in pass defense entering week 2. LA Tech’s offense is very easy to separate in to passing and rushing, because that’s what they do with two quarterbacks. Their passer is ironically named Blake Baker and will be the guy in the game when they’re looking to sling the ball around. Cumby runs an Air-Raid offense, just like what Mike Leach used to do. Baker had a short night against Northwestern St with an efficient 10-14 for 232 yards and 3 touchdowns. He threw for 1,251 yards and 5 touchdowns a year ago. The Bulldogs run a good bit of 4 and 5 receiver sets, normally including tight end Eli Finley, who reeled in 4 receptions for 52 yards and a touchdown in week 1. Jalen Mickens led the way with 3 receptions for 133 yards and a touchdown, including a big 75 yard catch and run through defenders on their first offensive play from scrimmage. Look for Marcus Calwise Jr and Oklahoma St transfer, Talyn Shettron, to round out the usual set of receivers. Their 296 yards passing last week have them ranked 40 th , which is a giant improvement from 2025. Last season, they ranked 121 st in the country with only 163.8 yards per game through the air. LA Tech runs out a very experienced offensive line, especially on the edges. Both starting tackles are redshirt juniors and in their 4 th year of college football. They will have their hands full with the pass rush of LSU. This will be an interesting matchup, because with the way Cumby spreads defenses out, we will likely get to see the next set of cornerbacks behind Woodland and Pickett. Ja’Keem Jackson and Havon Finney Jr were listed directly behind those two on the depth chart a week ago, so expect to see plenty of them. This feels like a matchup in which the speed and ferocity of the pass rush is going to make for a tough night for Baker to go through progressions. LSU went cover 0 with no one over the top multiple times against Clemson, trusting their pressure both on the quarterback and at the line of scrimmage against receivers. Running Game Clemson got absolutely stuffed when trying to run the ball a week ago. The longest rush that LSU allowed was of 11 yards and that was on the touchdown run by Eziomume with the 3’s in the game on the final defensive drive. Whit Weeks and TJ Dottery did exactly what was expected of them, filling gaps and flying to the ball all night. Weeks was the leading tackler with 6, along with Umanmielen. Dottery finished with 5 and 0.5 for loss. Baker’s unit only allowed 40 yards rushing, which ended up being 16 th best in the country. It was a solid night on the ground for the Bulldogs in week 1. Their 232 yards on the ground was 40 th best in the country. They also ran the ball very well in 2025, finishing 24 th with 195.4 yards per game. Dylone Brooks is the lead back, carrying 6 times for 48 yards and a touchdown against the Demons. Behind him, Andrew Burnette carried the ball 7 times for 33 yards. The name to watch in the running game is their “running” quarterback, Trey Kukuk. He had 5 carries for 50 yards last week, but was big in their rushing attack in 2025, carrying the ball 98 times for 649 yards and 5 touchdowns. One of my most anticipated matchups in this game is the battle of the interior lines in the trenches. LA Tech is very experienced across the line, but especially so in the middle. From left to right, their left guard is a redshirt senior, the center is a redshirt junior, and their right guard is the youngest as a redshirt sophomore. That’s 9 years of playing experience between 3 players coming in to this year. As for LSU, they’re incredibly young in the middle of their defensive line. Deuce Geralds and Richard Anderson are both 5-stars, but they’re both true freshmen playing in their second career game. You can even throw Lamar Brown in there, who lined up as a defensive tackle a few times in certain scenarios against Clemson. Dominick McKinley and Stephiylan Green provide some experience, but I’m looking forward to watching the freshman when they’re in the game. Look for Dashawn Spears to be heavily involved against the run being lined up at the STAR position near the line of scrimmage. He could be especially important when Kukuk enters the game. Prediction The spread for this game is -35.5 in LSU’s favor. It opened at -32.5 and quickly jumped up over 5 touchdowns. I tend to agree with that confidence in the Tigers. Although LA Tech’s quarterbacks each have more experience than what Clemson’s had coming in a week ago, I still see Blake Baker’s unit giving them a very hard time. It will be extremely tough for the Bulldogs to score. On the other side, this is a gigantic mismatch between an inexperienced secondary and a crop of talented weapons. With two massive SEC games to follow, I expect Kiffin and Weis Jr to get Leavitt and his targets on the same page. That won’t all come together immediately, but it can go a long way, especially after not playing for the final 20 minutes in week 1.  LSU – 55 LA Tech - 6

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.