BATON ROUGE - LSU head coach Lane Kiffin says the Tigers are ramping up the physicality this week as they prepare for their first scrimmage of fall camp.

The team is putting on full pads this week, giving the coaching staff its first opportunity to evaluate the Tigers in more live-contact situations.

"We have got to tackle, which we avoided a lot in the spring," Kiffin said. "Just trying to get things done and stay healthy, and you know you have to at some point because we got to make sure that we're ready."

Kiffin said the Tigers can't afford to ease into the season when they open against Clemson, one of the top programs in the country.

"Especially with our schedule set up, you have an extremely hard opener, one of the best programs in the country," Kiffin said. "You don't really have a progression to try to maybe treat that game a little bit differently, you know, where you can start tackling in the game more and maybe be a little bit rusty. We can't afford that in this opener."

LSU will get its first chance to put that increased physicality on display Saturday, when the Tigers hold their first scrimmage.

"This will be a week in pads where we see them tackle on Saturday, and also see them go against tackling."

Kiffin also provided an encouraging update on starting quarterback Sam Leavitt, who is now practicing fully after recovering from offseason foot surgery.

"Sam's had a great week. Had a great practice today, taking care of the ball, really throwing the ball really accurately and on time, and I am extremely pleased with his week and how he looks," Kiffin said.

Kiffin acknowledged that his expectations for Leavitt earlier in camp may have been unrealistic while the quarterback was still limited by his recovery.

"We have high standards on how we want things and what we want them to look like, and it was probably unrealistic what I was expecting him to look like when you can't move, and he's just throwing without really having his weight to be able to push into," Kiffin said.

Now that Leavitt is healthy and moving around again, Kiffin said the quarterback has taken another step forward.

"So now that he's healthy, he said he's had a great week. We're really excited about him."

LSU will open the 2026 season at home against Clemson on Sept. 5 at 6:30 p.m. The game will be played in Tiger Stadium and will air on WBRZ.

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BATON ROUGE — LSU men's basketball player Jalen Reed will miss the rest of the 2025-26 season after tearing his Achilles tendon on Friday. 

The redshirt junior forward suffered the injury in the second half against Drake in the Emerald Coast Classic in Niceville, Fla. Head coach Matt McMahon said Reed underwent successful surgery on Tuesday morning in Baton Rouge. 

“Jalen is a team captain and leader as well as a soon-to-be LSU Graduate. He represents everything that is great about college athletics. While I cannot convey the depth of my disappointment for Jalen, I remain in admiration of his spirit and mental toughness. We look forward to supporting him in his recovery and cannot wait to see him back on the basketball court," McMahon said. 

Reed averaged 9.5 points and 5.7 rebounds in 18 minutes per game through the first six games of the season. 

The Tigers' next game will be at Boston College at 6:15 p.m. on Wednesday in the ACC/SEC Challenge. 

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BATON ROUGE — LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane was named one of three finalists for the Jim Thorpe Award on Tuesday, an annual award given to the best defensive back in the country. 

Delane transferred to LSU from Virginia Tech before the 2025 season. As a Tiger, Delane has two interceptions and 10 pass breakups before the end of the season. He has yet to allow a touchdown and has given up 13 receptions for 147 yards. He has held opposing quarterbacks to a 38.2 completion percentage when they throw his way. 

The other Jim Thorpe Award finalists were Ohio State safety Caleb Downs and Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore. If he were to win, Delane would join fellow LSU Jim Thorpe Award recipients Grant Delpit, Morris Claiborne and Patrick Peterson.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — LSU soccer moved on to the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA tournament for the first time in school history with Friday's comeback win over the Iowa Hawkeyes. 

Iowa scored the first goal of the match in the 14th minute, but the Tigers answered quickly when midfielder Ida Hermansdottir scored on a penalty kick in the 17th minute. Forward Ava Galligan took the lead for the Tigers with a 66th-minute near-post goal from six yards out.

LSU held on to win 2-1. 

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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The LSU Tigers lost their fourth game of the season 20-9 to Alabama in Bryant-Denny Stadium.

LSU's defense brought the pressure in the first quarter. They got a stop on fourth and short to get a turnover on downs. The Tiger offense pushed the ball down field, but kicker Damian Ramos missed a 30-yard field goal attempt.

On LSU's second offensive drive of the game, Bauer Sharp fumbled the ball at the 24-yard line. Alabama's Nikhai Hill-Green forced the fumble and recovered it to give the Crimson Tide the ball. LSU's defense did enough to keep Alabama out of the endzone. They held them to a 45-yard field goal. 

Alabama led 3-0 after the first quarter of play.

LSU would move deep into Alabama territory early in the second quarter when freshman running back Harlem Berry broke loose for a big 37-yard gain. That led to Ramos making a 37-yard field goal. 

LSU tied the game 3-3 with 12:47 left in the second quarter.

The Tide responded on the ensuing drive. Running back Daniel Hill capped off a seven play, 75-yard drive with a 4-yard rushing touchdown. Alabama led 10-3 with 9:25 left in the second quarter.

Alabama attempted to extend their lead later in the second. After getting in the red zone, the Crimson Tide miss on a 26-yard field goal attempt with 2:28 until halftime. 

However, Alabama got the ball back and scored a touchdown on a three-play, 66-yard drive right before the half.

LSU started the third quarter on offense. They got to the 13-yard line, but on third down, quarterback Garrett Nussmeier was sacked. That led to a successful Ramos field goal from 44 yards out. LSU trailed 17-6 with 8:46 left in the third quarter. 

On LSU's next offensive possession, the staff put in backup quarterback Michael Van Buren to take over for Nussmeier. In his first drive of the game, LSU punted the ball away at their own 41-yard line. 

LSU trailed 17-6 heading into the fourth quarter. 

On the first play of the fourth quarter, linebacker Harold Perkins forces and recovers an Alabama fumble. He gives the Tiger offense the ball at the Crimson Tide 38-yard line.

Van Buren went back in at quarterback. The LSU offense failed to find the end zone once again. Ramos made his third field goal of the night. This one form 37 yards out. LSU trailed 17-9 with 10:28 left in the game.

LSU was able to force a punt, but the ball was downed on the one-yard line and LSU went three-and-out again, giving the ball back to Alabama with 7:11 left in the game. Alabama was able to kick a 44-yard field goal to take a 20-9 lead.

With less than 4 minutes remaining, LSU quarterback Michael Van Buren lost the ball on a strip sack. Alabama was able to run the clock out to secure the victory.

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BATON ROUGE - LSU interim head coach, Frank Wilson, spoke to the media for the first time Tuesday evening since taking the job after former head coach Brian Kelly was fired Sunday.

Wilson shared his message to the team, what representing LSU means to him and potential changes he will make in order for the Tigers to be successful in their final four games.

Since both Kelly and offensive coordinator, Joe Sloan, were fired, Wilson promoted other coaches to take over some of those duties.

Tight ends coach and run game coordinator, Alex Atkins, will take over as the primary play-caller for the rest of the season. Offensive analyst, Tim Rattay, will take over as the quarterbacks coach. Also, analyst Cordae Hankton will have an increased role with coaching the running backs.

Wilson held LSU's first practice as the interim head coach on Tuesday.

The Tigers have a bye week and will not play on Saturday. They will travel to face No. 4 Alabama on Nov. 8. That game is set for 6:30 p.m. and will air on WBRZ.

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BATON ROUGE - Basketball season is near, and fans got their first look at the new LSU women's basketball team as they hosted Mississippi College for an exhibition game Thursday night.

The Tigers dominated the Choctaws by winning 148-46. The 102-point victory was accomplished by 12 players getting on the stat sheet and seven of them scoring in double digits.

Freshman ZaKiyah Johnson led the way for LSU by scoring 25 points and 10 rebounds. She went 12-of-14 from the field.

In her LSU debut, South Carolina transfer MiLaysia Fulwiley scored 17 points and had four rebounds, four assists and three steals.

LSU will host Langston on Oct. 30 for their final exhibition game. That matchup is set for 7 p.m.

The Tigers will open the regular season at home on Nov. 4 when they take on Houston Christian at 7 p.m.

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - With the season just weeks away, LSU women's basketball headed to SEC Tipoff on Wednesday to preview their 2025-2026 squad.

Head coach Kim Mulkey was joined by senior Flau'jae Johnson, junior Mikaylah Williams and junior transfer MiLaysia Fulwiley.

The Tigers are expected to have one of the best perimeters in the country with Johnson and Williams' return, but LSU does lack size in the front court. They're replacing All-SEC player, Aneesah Morrow, as she took her playing career to the WNBA. 

There are also many new faces on the team and LSU only has five players on the roster that have started games in the Purple and Gold.

LSU was picked to finish third in the SEC and will enter the season as the No. 5 team in the country according to the AP preseason poll.

LSU will host Mississippi College for an exhibition game on Oct. 23 at the Maravich Center. They will open the regular season at home against Houston Christian on Nov. 4.

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