LSU Sports Insider
by The Advocate
A podcast from the beat writers, columnists and editors covering LSU athletics for The Advocate, NOLA.com and the Times-Picayune. Scott Rabalais, Wilson Alexander, Sheldon Mickles, Reed Darcey and more give you the latest news and analysis on LSU athletics and college sports nationwide.
Episodes
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The Tide is turning: Why LSU has the edge over Alabama
The LSU football team comes off its bye week to face the Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday at Tiger Stadium.The rivalry game takes a hiatus next year, but this one has plenty of meaning: The winner is on pace for the College Football Playoff, while the loser will have its back against the wall —...
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Sorting out SEC chaos as LSU begins crucial November
The Southeastern Conference football race is a mess, with eight teams sitting between 5-1 and 3-2 in the standings, including LSU. The Tigers begin a crucial three-game stretch against Alabama, Texas and Tennessee on Saturday, and our LSU Insiders are here to break down the stretch, make sense of...
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About an intriguing basketball season — for both LSU men and women
This is the LSU Sports Insider basketball preview show, when we'll have Advocate beat writers dig into the seasons to come for both the Tigers' men's and women's teams. • Is RJ Luis really still a possibility for the LSU men? • With or without him, can Will Wade mold the talent he's assembled…
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Bye week report cards: Thoughts on LSU football after 8 games
With the LSU football team taking a week off, the LSU Sports Insiders give their take on how things have gone thus far for the 6-2 Tigers. We'll give report cards for LSU's offense, defense, special teams and coaching staff, then reset expectations as far as what's fair for the November gauntlet...
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LSU-Auburn preview: About those road demons
The LSU Sports Insider podcast is back with an episode previewing LSU's trip to Auburn to face the other Tigers. It's a rivalry that has a history filled with crazy results, especially at Jordan-Hare Stadium, and LSU would like nothing more than to go get a win away from home. Those have been...
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Just like that, LSU has re-entered the CFP chat
The LSU football team enjoyed a routine blowout of Mississippi State on Saturday, and what happened the rest of the day helped the Tigers, too. Top teams fell across the SEC and the rest of the country, opening the door for LSU to re-enter the College Football Playoff conversation. We'll discuss...
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LSU-Mississippi State preview: Pink locker rooms, the Parable of Maybe and a must-win
The LSU football team returns home to face Mississippi State in a crucial game Saturday at Tiger Stadium. It's a must-win if the Tigers want to remain in any semblance of the College Football Playoff hunt, and LSU might be catching a break, as it appears Mississippi State quarterback Kamario…
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Dissecting a bad loss at Kentucky + Will Wade's basketball chaos
With a couple of days to digest LSU's upset football loss at Kentucky, our LSU Sports Insiders break down the game, both how it happened and how damaging it is for LSU's playoff hopes. We'll also discuss the Tigers' specific woes on the road and the Sam Leavitt roller-coaster experience. In the...
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LSU-Kentucky preview: Recipe for a Tigers' road win
The LSU football team travels to take on the Kentucky Wildcats on Saturday night in Lexington. It's been a mostly impressive start to the season for the Tigers, but they don't yet have a road win on the résumé. How can they accomplish that this weekend and run their record to 5-1? Our LSU…
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101 plays?! Here's why LSU never took its foot off the gas against McNeese
The LSU Tigers routed McNeese State 63-14 on Saturday night, running their record to 4-1 and racking up 731 yards of offense. It's hard to draw meaningful conclusions from a mismatch, but our LSU Insiders do have a few takeaways, including why Lane Kiffin decided to play Sam Leavitt for a full…
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LSU's McNeese decision: Rest players, or roll 'em out?
The LSU football team faces McNeese State on Saturday in a game the Tigers should win easily. What does that mean for the status of quarterback Sam Leavitt, who is nursing a minor hamstring injury, and other LSU starters? Our LSU Insiders are here to discuss LSU's approach to the game, what we'd...
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Taking stock of LSU football after a month
The LSU football team has finished the first month of its three-month season, and our LSU Insiders are here to discuss how things have changed for the Tigers: What has us more optimistic? What concerns us? And how have expectations changed? We'll also update some of the injuries LSU players...
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Texas A&M at LSU preview: Keys to the Tigers bouncing back
The LSU Tigers welcome the Texas A&M Aggies this weekend in a game that is no longer a battle of top-10 teams, but instead top-25 teams each coming off of a frustrating loss. Our LSU Insiders break down who has the edge when each team has the ball, which mercurial quarterback — Sam Leavitt or...
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LSU's reality check: What the Ole Miss loss really tells us — and what comes next
After a close loss in an emotional game at Ole Miss on Saturday night, LSU is left to wonder what went wrong and what comes next. Our LSU Sports Insiders discuss the issues from Saturday night that are red flags, which are more fixable problems and what lies ahead for a Tigers team that still has...
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LSU vs. Ole Miss preview: It's finally here
The Lane Kiffin Armageddon Showdown Extravaganza™ has finally arrived, as Kiffin and his LSU Tigers are set to face the Ole Miss Rebels on Saturday night in Oxford, Miss. Kiffin's return to the school he left before the College Football Playoff last season is storyline enough, but we've also got...
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Setting the stage for an LSU-Ole Miss game unlike any other
LSU-Ole Miss week is here, and the LSU Sports Insiders are setting the stage for an epic showdown in Oxford on Saturday. To that end, we take a look back at some positive and some negative from the Tigers' performance against Louisiana Tech last Saturday and talk about what it means for the…
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LSU, SEC back off + LSU-La. Tech preview
The SEC's threat of expelling LSU from the conference appears to have dissipated, with both sides backing off. Having said that, our LSU Insiders are not sure this situation is over and will discuss the possible ways it could go in the future. Meanwhile, on the field, LSU will try to follow up an...
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SEC threatens to expel LSU?! Plus LSU's statement vs. Clemson
The drama of LSU's football season just took another twist Tuesday, as the SEC has added to its federal lawsuit against the school by adding a threat of expelling LSU from the conference. T hat comes against the backdrop of the Tigers' seriously impressive sea #son-opening performance against...
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Court rules LSU football can bring players back + Clemson game preview
After a crazy day in a Baton Rouge courtroom, LSU became a defendant in two cases but ultimately received the green light to add players returning from NFL training camps, such as tight end Dae'Quan Wright and defensive tackle Zxavian Harris. Now the decision rests in LSU's hands: Will the Tigers...
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The 2026 LSU football preview show and predictions
There are still lawsuits and petitions and appeals to figure out in court (and yes, we talk about that, too). But it's game week, and it's time to talk some football. In this episode, our LSU Insiders give picks for: • LSU's 2026 record • LSU's postseason finish • The Tigers' breakout player •…
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How far will LSU go in its fight to use ex-NFL players?
The LSU football season starts in just over a week, but the talk dominating the airwaves isn't about how Sam Leavitt will deal with the Clemson pass rush or how the LSU secondary matches up with the other Tigers' receivers. Instead, all discussion centers around the efforts of former college...
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LSU, pro players and the SEC: Explaining the controversy
Various sports at LSU, most notably Lane Kiffin and the football team, are trying to bring back players who have participated in professional drafts or camps as a loophole in the NCAA's 5-in-5 rule. Conference offices, including the SEC, have published rules saying that they would punish any…
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LSU's biggest concerns two weeks from Clemson
Our LSU Insiders are back with some observations from LSU football practice and talking to coach Lane Kiffin. Reading between the lines, what are things that should concern the Tigers with the Clemson game just 16 days away? We also dive into the new status of old players — with lawsuits...
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Remembering Skip Bertman, clowning on Jayden Daniels and a football update
On this episode of LSU Sports Insider, we remember the life and legend of Skip Bertman, the LSU baseball coach and athletic director who died Friday at age 88. We remember how Skip built Tigers baseball from an afterthought to a powerhouse by force of will, how he ushered LSU athletics into the...
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Jayden Daniels is NOT happy with LSU ... who's right about No. 5?
Drama found the LSU football program again overnight, with the story breaking that Jayden Daniels issued the school a cease-and-desist letter about using his name, image and likeness after LSU allowed DJ Pickett to have Daniels' No. 5 jersey number. Our LSU Insiders have thoughts on that and…
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Sam Leavitt talks, Lane Kiffin opens up and some depth chart reveals
The LSU football team has been at preseason camp for about a week, and some answers are starting to trickle in. First, quarterback Sam Leavitt says he's healthy and has been healthy, and limited clips from practice seem to confirm it. What does that mean for LSU's season? Lane Kiffin gave some…
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A $100 million deal for LSU, and training camp starts
LSU has secured a $100 million private investment into a venture tied to money from its broadcast rights. Our LSU Insiders explain the deal, try to make sense of the risk/reward for LSU and why the school chose now to do it. We also discuss the start of training camp for LSU football, which is...
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The LSU Insider Training Camp Preview
The LSU football team reports for fall camp this week, and the LSU Insiders are here with a full preview, including: • Changes coming from Kiffin? • All eyes on Sam Leavitt • Defense ahead of offense • Getting all the newcomers to gel • Position battles to watch And more, including a note on a…
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Lane Kiffin Sets the Tone for LSU Training Camp
LSU football coach Lane Kiffin spoke to the Baton Rouge Rotary Club on Wednesday in his final public appearance of the offseason. It was a light-hearted session, full of gifts for Kiffin and jokes from the head coach for the crowd. But our LSU Insiders found some meaning in the tone that Kiffin...
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SEC Media Days: All Eyes on Lane Kiffin and LSU
In the aftermath of SEC Football Media Days, our LSU Insiders examine the comments made by Lane Kiffin — and mostly about Lane Kiffin — as the various SEC teams took the podium in Tampa. In this episode, we hit on: • Kiffin in the spotlight • LSU's player reps • The Pete Golding-Kiffin dynamic •...
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Heupel hypes LSU's game at Tennessee, plus other SEC media days thoughts
The headline from the first day of SEC Media Days, at least from an LSU perspective, was Tennessee coach Josh Heupel fanning the flames of the Tigers' game in Knoxville late in the season, joking that he hoped his fans would treat Lane Kiffin the same way they did in his previous game there. Our...
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SEC media days preview: LSU, Ole Miss and the best of the rest
It's our SEC media days preview! With LSU's opener against Clemson exactly 50 days away, the Southeastern Conference gathers for its annual week of press conferences and soundbites. Lane Kiffin and LSU will take center stage as the last team to speak next Thursday, but there are plenty of...
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LSU baseball had a GREAT MLB draft weekend
The LSU baseball team received great news on multiple fronts from the Major League Baseball draft this past weekend. First and foremost, several of the prep stars the Tigers had in their recruiting class withdrew from the draft and will head to LSU instead of going pro. In addition, Derek Curiel...
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What LSU is watching in the MLB Draft
The 2026 Major League Baseball draft is this weekend, and the LSU Tigers have several players — and more importantly for 2027 purposes, freshmen committed to the school — expected to be picked. Which high schoolers will eventually make it to LSU, and who will be picked too high? Which names…
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On Urban Meyer, LSU fans and 2026 expectations
Are LSU football fans really "nut jobs"? That's what national championship-winning coach Urban Meyer said last week, saying the Tigers faithful would have a huge problem if Lane Kiffin didn't at least come close to a national championship in his first season. Our LSU Sports Insiders dissect what...
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The 5 games LSU football CAN'T LOSE in 2026
Every game is important in a college football season, but when you have a schedule as stacked as LSU does in 2026, there are some games you simply can't afford to lose. In this episode, the LSU Insiders rank their top five games that the Tigers CAN'T LOSE if they're going to call the season a...
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Introducing our new LSU football writer
On this episode, the LSU Insiders welcome a new member: Jon Blau, The Advocate's new LSU football beat writer. Jon joins us from South Carolina, where he was covering Clemson for the Post & Courier newspaper. Today he'll talk about his career, his expectations for covering LSU and the big...
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LSU football 2026: Game windows revealed, uniform thoughts
We are still 11 weeks away from LSU's 2026 football season, but it's time to start the countdown. Our LSU Sports Insiders take a look at the schedule windows for the Tigers' 2026 season, give our thoughts on an early kickoff and determine which home games are the most intriguing. We also take a...
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Repercussions from Brendan Sorsby decision, plus LSU baseball/football recruiting
With LSU sports mostly in their summer slumber, the LSU Sports Insiders take a look at the big-picture story affecting all of college sports: Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby, who was found to have gambled on games he played in at earlier stops in his career and was declared ineligible, only...
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LSU sports power rankings: Where does football rank?
With the college athletic calendar nearing its finish line, the LSU Sports Insiders take a moment to examine the health of each sports program at LSU. Which is in the best position to compete for championships, now and in the near- and long-term future? How will Lane Kiffin fare with football?…
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Kiffin, LSU in spotlight at SEC Spring Meetings
As has become his custom, LSU football coach Lane Kiffin found himself in the spotlight at the SEC Spring Meetings this week, defending his comments about Ole Miss and reacting to the "Lane Kiffin Rule" in a congressional bill. But he wasn't the only one garnering attention this week in Destin.…
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LSU baseball got it all wrong this year. How do they fix it?
The LSU baseball team suffered through its worst season in decades, a year that officially ended Monday when the Tigers weren't selected for the NCAA tournament. It was a whiplash change from the previous three seasons that produced two national championships. The LSU Sports Insiders take one…
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Geaux again: Ed Orgeron returns to LSU on Lane Kiffin's staff
One of the most LSU headlines possible hit the college football world on Wednesday night, with news that Ed Orgeron is returning to the Tigers to coach on Lane Kiffin's staff. Coach O won the 2019 national championship at LSU, of course, but he was fired in 2021 and has bounced around without...
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The first four LSU players of the new Will Wade era
The LSU men's basketball team still only has four players confirmed on its roster, but that's three more than a couple of weeks ago. Our LSU Sports Insiders break down the new signees, whether we can expect immediate impact from them, what Will Wade and company still need to do to complete the...
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Lane Kiffin in Vanity Fair, LSU baseball meltdown, softball and more
A jam-packed episode of the LSU Sports Insider dives into the following: • The Lane Kiffin story in Vanity Fair and whether we learned anything • The context and motivation for Kiffin's comment about diversity in Oxford vs. Baton Rouge • LSU baseball's pitching disaster at Georgia • What the...
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Geaux get 'em: LSU football recruiting highs, basketball whys
The LSU football team secured a verbal commitment from the nation's top tight end, Ahmad Hudson, this weekend, continuing some recruiting momentum for Lane Kiffin and his staff. Our LSU Sports Insiders talk about what it means, how Hudson fits and the interesting quarterback situation of the...
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LSU baseball disaster, football hope and more with Scott Rabalais
Advocate columnist Scott Rabalais joins the LSU Insiders for a chat about all things LSU sports. We talk about the baseball team, whose SEC losing streak has reached historic proportions. We talk the first spring football session under Lane Kiffin and why the new coach is trying to stay realistic...
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Final thoughts on spring football and LSU in the NFL Draft
The LSU football team wraps up spring football this week, and the LSU Sports Insiders are here to talk about impressions over the past few weeks. We discuss the backup quarterbacks, Landen Clark and Husan Longstreet, and Lane Kiffin's comments that they had improved from a "concerning" start. We...
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LSU baseball emergency: Adjustments that could save the season
The LSU baseball team was swept again this past weekend, losing all three games to Texas A&M without really coming close in any of them. The LSU Sports Insiders take a look at how slim the margin for error is for the Tigers to make the NCAA tournament, Jay Johnson's revealing comments about how…
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Geaux for gold: What it'll take for LSU gymnastics to win another title
The LSU gymnastics team heads to Fort Worth, Texas, this weekend for the national championships as the Tigers look for their second national title in three years. LSU failed in the semifinals last year, and the LSU Insiders tell us what it'll take to get to the finish line this year. We break…
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About this show
A podcast from the beat writers, columnists and editors covering LSU athletics for The Advocate, NOLA.com and the Times-Picayune. Scott Rabalais, Wilson Alexander, Sheldon Mickles, Reed Darcey and more give you the latest news and analysis on LSU athletics and college sports nationwide.
Hosted by
The Advocate