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FOOTBALL FORECAST Lane Kiffin transformed LSU football’s roster over the offseason. Here’s who to watch on opening weekend. Read on
Photo by Luke Ray
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L SU Re ve i l le.co m @l s u r e ve i l le
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ALL-NEW OFFENSE
Get to know the faces behind LSU football’s explosive offense BY TRIPP BUHLER Staff Writer LSU football is looking fast this season. Lane Kiffin was hired away from Ole Miss to turn LSU around and overhaul an offense that couldn’t score more than 25 points against an FBS team in last year’s regular season. He brought the cavalry to try to achieve that goal. Offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. is in his seventh season coordinating Kiffin’s offense. The two have nearly mastered an overwhelmingly fast offensive attack. “There’s so many advantages to [playing fast],” fifth-year senior center Braelin Moore said. “The defense has to play on their heels every play. They don’t know what we’re going to run because there’s so much motion going on. It’s really a headache for the defense.” The up-tempo offense has become a specialty of Kiffin and Weis’ game. It helped lead Ole Miss to its best season in program history last year behind an explosive offense. “[Kiffin and I have] worked well together, and so I know exactly what he wants offensively,” Weis told reporters. “I think he does a great job of seeing our game plan throughout the course of the week, and kind of course correcting it in certain areas.” Running backs coach Kevin Smith, tight ends coach Joe Cox, wide receivers coach George McDonald, offensive line coach Eric Wolford, inside wide receivers coach Sawyer Jordan and quarterbacks coach Dane Stevens all came from Ole Miss as well. “We have a very low ego group as an offensive staff, where all those guys contribute greatly to our game plan,” Weis said. LSU got its guy To lead the offense, Kiffin grabbed quarterback Sam Leavitt from Arizona State. Leavitt was ranked as the top player in this past transfer portal cycle. Leavitt is a film-junkie who has been praised by his coaches and teammates for his work ethic and the way that he approaches the game. He is enamored with the sport of football. “It’s really fun being in a quarterback room when you got a really veteran, experienced guy that can understand football at a really high level,” Weis said. Leavitt and the Sun Devils made the College Football Playoff in 2024, but he missed the back half of 2025 with a foot injury. He said that he has fully recovered from that injury. Moore
described him as a “twitchy” player for his ability to make plays with his legs. He has shown a strong ability to scramble out of the pocket and make what Kiffin calls “adult throws.” Leavitt threw for 4,513 yards at Arizona State with 34 passing touchdowns. He added 749 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground. The advantage that Leavitt gets from his offensive-minded head coach will propel his game this year. Since coach-to-player communication was adopted by the NCAA in 2024, Kiffin and Weis’ offenses at Ole Miss led the country in total offense and quarterback ranking. Leavitt has already found his favorite target in tight end Trey’Dez Green, who was awarded with the No. 7 jersey alongside linebacker Whit Weeks on Wednesday, given to the biggest game-changers on the team. “I always say: every time [Trey’Dez’s] name gets brought up, puts a smile on my face. He walks into the building and he puts a smile on your face, so, what a special human,” Leavitt said. Green has the skill to be the best tight end in the nation. He, like Leavitt, is as excellent in the film room as he is on the field. “Just seeing Trey’Dez and how much work he puts into it, and his mindset is elite,” Weis said. “He’s an absolute pro in everything he does.” The tight end room rounds out with Pitt transfer Malachi Thomas and Oregon transfer Zach Grace, who will be a blocking-first tight end. Dae’Quan Wright, a potential transfer from Ole Miss, has his eligibility in the air with everchanging rules regarding players who have signed NFL contracts returning to college. LSU’s key changes are up front The offensive line for LSU needs to be better than what it was last year. Leavitt needs protection and LSU can’t have an ineffective run game like it did in 2025 if it wants to contend. LSU picked up left tackle Jordan Seaton, the top offensive lineman in the portal this offseason. To his right will be Bo Bordelon, a fifth-year senior who Seaton said is “the perfect left guard for me.” Moore reclaims his spot at center from last year, and will wear a No. 18 patch, representing his leadership on the team. He is the first offensive lineman to earn the number since center Lloyd Cushenberry III in 2019. Maryland transfer Aliou Bah brings in plenty of power conference experience and will be LSU’s starting right guard. Weston Davis returns as LSU’s
right tackle, a spot where he struggled with inconsistency last season. This group looks good from a down-to-down consistency standpoint, but still has a ways to go. It’s aiming to be the first LSU offensive line to win the Joe Moore Award, which is given annually to the best offensive line in the country. “I got the utmost confidence in this group that we could go get that award, and we could be the most dominant O-line in the country,” Moore said. Coach Wolford and fellow offensive line coach James Cregg have brought in a coaching regime that seems to resonate better with players than the previous staff. “This is as close to the pros as I think it’s going to get,” Seaton said. “Just from the way [Cregg] teaches and the expectation that he has for us, it’s great.” The issue is in the depth of the offensive line, which Kiffin identified as a big area of concern. Ole Miss transfer Devin Harper and Tennessee transfer William Satterwhite II are two players that can slot in if there’s an injury, but the depth is thin behind them. LSU’s skill positions offer plenty of talent The wide receiver group is in the opposite situation with depth. Kiffin retooled nearly the entire corps through the portal, and the ball is going to get distributed to six or seven different receivers. “I think the good thing is [that] we have a lot of depth, a lot of players that have the ability to make plays,” Weis said. “There’s been a few guys that certainly, you know, I think are standing out and being really consistent.” Weis said that the main benefit of having this group of receivers is that they all excel in different areas, allowing the staff to mix and match on the field. The four players that look like they could be starters are all transfers: Jayce Brown from Kansas State, Jackson Harris from Hawaii, Winnie Watkins from Ole Miss and Eugene Wilson from Florida. Watkins will likely be the slot receiver, Harris is the team’s main deep threat and Brown and Wilson are the best allaround receivers on this team. Other names
who will be featured in the rotation are Malik Elzy, who has shown off his quickness in fall camp, and Philip Wright — the lone receiver to return from last year’s team. Another group that has a wealth of talent is the running back room, which is headlined by an unlikely star: Dilin Jones. After a year with Harlem Berry and Caden Durham taking most of the carries last year, the Wisconsin Transfer has emerged as the clear RB1. “Dilin’s been great. [He] really has had a great week too, and kind of taken off from where he did in the spring,” Kiffin said on Aug. 10. “[Berry and Durham] still have a lot of work to go and improve, and so this is where they’re at now, but we want to push them more.” Berry looks like he will get the second most reps behind him, with Durham to follow. Stacy Gage, a transfer from UCF, will be featured primarily in blocking but will get a few carries too. In Kiffin’s no-huddle offense, there isn’t much time for substitutions. For both the wide receivers and running backs, whoever is good enough to be the starter will see the most time on the field.
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Monday, August 31, 2026
DANGEROUS DEFENSE
Meet the LSU football defense that looks to build from strong 2025 season
NEWS BUILDING CONNECTIONS
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Annual Engineering Tiger Connections event helps students find clubs, organizations
BY VIVIAN SARHAN Staff Writer LSU’s College of Engineering held its annual Engineering Tiger Connections event Thursday at the Cambre Auditorium in Patrick F. Taylor Hall creating opportunities for students to network with one another. The event was for engineering students of all classifications, but especially freshmen, and showcased many of the clubs and organizations students in the engineering school can join. Besides student organizations, Geaux Global, the Student Health Center and the Olinde Career Center had tables at the event. One of the clubs at the event was Bengal Bots, LSU’s robotics club. Adan Betancourt, a sophomore mechanical engineering major, is the VEX U division lead for Bengal Bots. VEX U is the university circuit of annual competitions held by VEX Robotics that Betancourt and his team build advanced robots for. “So this year, [at the competition], we had to score balls through these little tubes to score them,” Betancourt said. “Each year, there is a big plot twist during the events. Last year the twist was you could subtract points from another competitor, and this year there was no limit on capacity for your robot.” Bengal Bots had its smaller, 15inch VEX robot, known as “Little Boy,” on display at the event. Betancourt used a remote control to demonstrate the robot’s capabilities. Betancourt said that the team built two of them. The larger, 24-inch VEX robot is named “Fat Man.”
“Bengal Bots has really helped me outsource friends, networking opportunities, all sorts of things,” Betancourt said. “I’ve gotten very close with a lot of people that share the same interests as me.” Students interested in software development could connect with the Google Developer Student Club, a coding club that collaborates with Google. GDSC President Mujtaba Malik, a senior software engineering major, said that the club offers aspiring developers the opportunity to grow and connect with other developers through events like hackathons. According to Malik, a hackathon is a weekend-long competition where computer science students work together on a project then are judged on their work. Usually, the top teams receive a financial prize or an opportunity to meet with potential employers. The 2026 hackathon will allow students to use AI in their projects. “AI is very new. I myself, as a senior, remember freshman year hearing about GPT 3.0, taking out jobs and such,” Malik said. “But, we basically grew up as developers alongside AI, so we’ve acquired a lot of experience in being able to develop with it correctly as a tool.” Malik said that he joined the club as a freshman, and the organization helped connect him with students who have experience working with major technology giants such as IBM and Microsoft. The club also serves as a way to build connections with developers at other Louisiana universities, such as Southeastern and Tulane. “[GDSC] also gave me something to put on my resume, which helped me land one of my first
ALEXIS PERSICKE / The Reveille
Students browse the tables Aug. 27 at Patrick F. Taylor Hall. internships, and through that I picked up a lot of experience,” Malik said. “So now as the president, I overlook a lot of these events that we hold to help more freshmen build connections.” The National Society of Black Engineers was among the student organizations at the event. NSBE is a professional development organization for Black students in engineering. The society provides students with the opportunity to attend conferences and land internships. NSBE Membership Chair Emiliana Grove, a junior mechanical engineering major, said she got an internship with Procter and Gamble due to NSBE. The organization also provides a place for students to relax after a long day of engineering classes. NSBE Vice President Zachary Legier, a senior earning a dual degree in mechanical engineering and philosophy, said that the organization holds community outreach and social events. “It’s not all just engineering and STEM. We know when students get
out of their classes, they don’t just want to have to do more math and science,” Legier said. NSBE provides students with the opportunity to meet people with similar interests. Jadon Joseph, an NSBE senator and fifthyear electrical and computer engineering student, said that the organization helped him find a community where he could meet like-minded people. “NSBE helped me find a community to attain resources from,” Joseph said. “It helped me find a lot of friends I wouldn’t have found if I didn’t join, including my fellow executive board members as well.” The Society of Women Engineers was another student organization at the event. SWE has branches at 300 colleges across the U.S. According to SWE’s website, they have been helping women engineers have a voice in the workplace for more than seven decades. Ciara Quinn, senior industrial engineering major and secretary of SWE, said that the organization also connects students with nation-
al grants and scholarships, as well as locally based research and internship opportunities. Quinn said that she personally had two internship opportunities because of her being able to network with SWE. “SWE is a great way to network and meet with people across the United States,” Quinn said. “Going to conferences is really, really, really beneficial for people’s resumes, because you know you’re going to meet people that you would never meet ordinarily.” SWE President, Rita Ntipouna, an industrial engineering senior, explained that SWE helped her build up her confidence. “SWE has definitely given me a community of engineers I feel like I can speak my mind to no matter what,” Ntipouna said. Marathon, the sponsor of the event, also had a table where students could talk with professionals in the field, including Madison Gondrella, LSU alumna and a chemical engineer for Marathon. Gondrella said that the company comes to these events for students to know what professional opportunities Marathon has to offer. “We want LSU students to get involved with us,” Gondrella said. “We’re always looking for interns for our Garyville Refinery, as well as our other refineries around the country.” The event showcased many opportunities that the engineering college has to offer, and for industrial engineering senior Grant Gueho, the event even enticed him to branch out to more organizations. “Everyone’s tables and displays are super convincing,” Gueho said. “I’m definitely thinking about joining some other clubs.”
ENVIRONMENT
LSU Campus Sustainability encourages recycling on game days BY MAIA TYLER Staff Writer Game days at Tiger Stadium are considered a staple of the LSU experience. There are many people behind the scenes working to make sure that tailgating events are enjoyable for everyone who comes. LSU Campus Sustainability is one group that makes sure campus looks its best when the Tigers play at home. Campus Sustainability manages on-campus waste reduction and recycling streams to divert recyclable materials from local landfills. The university participates in The GameDay Recycling Challenge every year. The competition encourages students and universities nationwide to help reduce waste during home foot-
ball games. Participating schools choose one game day to track and report their waste diversion metrics. “We do need a lot of volunteers for that because we not only pick up from the tailgates, but athletics lets us pick the [stadium],” Lisa Mahoney, assistant director of Campus Sustainability, said. “There is a stipend that is provided to the vendor that helps facilitate [the event], so students can get paid for their service.” All recycled material found in and around Tiger Stadium, except cardboard, will be loaded into a trailer and transported to the recycling sorting facility on campus. The plastic bottles get separated from the metal cans and put into different material streams to be sent out to local recycling processors. Some of the plastic
bottles get turned into carpeting, while the cans get turned back into cans. Mahoney said cardboard is collected separately from bottles and cans. Campus Sustainability is limited on what can be recycled, being located in Baton Rouge Mahoney, explained. “There were a lot of issues. They wanted to charge us a lot of money to process the material,” Mahoney said. “To expand the program and be transparent, we chose to take ownership. A lot of the students weren’t believing that we were recycling and thought it was going in the trash.” Campus Sustainability has been working to make campus greener, and not just for game days. They put two reverse recycling vending machines on cam-
pus: one in the student union and one in the library. Students can put their empty plastic bottles, cans and other eligible containers in the machine and then receive rewards such as cash, loyalty points and discounts. During move-in 2026, Campus Sustainability did a recycling campaign in partnership with Residential Life, focusing on informing the incoming students on how to properly recycle cardboard on campus. Senior mass communication major Leilani Drake has been the public relations digital content creator for Sustainability since October 2026. “People think that we don’t recycle here on campus, and I can understand why. Some areas on campus are slightly neglected compared to others, but I think
that’s primarily because of how the students are interacting with it,” Drake said. “I don’t have plastic temporary containers; I use glass, and when I go shopping, I bring my reusable bags. It’s very much how many uses can I get out of this one item before I depart with it.” Drake said that one of the hardest parts about campus recycling is trying to get people to be more aware. She thinks that it would be good for students to get the opportunity to participate in the sorting, which is what they plan to emphasize for this semester. If students are interested in joining recycling initiatives on campus or participating in The GameDay Recycling Challenge, they can email sustainability@ lsu.edu to learn more.
ENTERTAINMENT This LSU student turns love for art into party banners, game day pins PUZZLES
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BY LILY CENTOLA Staff Writer
Everyone needs an outlet in life. For senior biology major Maddie Lavie, art is a natural way to relieve the stress and pressure that comes with having such a demanding field of study. To Lavie, creativity fuels the mind and adds color to what some call the daily mundane. Lavie started Made by Maddie in August 2024. Raised by a creative mother, Lavie grew up making art. In high school, she was a member of the National Art Honor Society and even had her artwork published in a few magazines and books. Despite her accolades, Lavie couldn’t have guessed where her art would take her after graduating high school. While senior biology major Morgan Crane has known Lavie since high school, their friendship has continued into the pair’s higher education. Now, Crane and Lavie have been roommates for four years. Crane describes their apartment as always being decorated whether with banners for holidays or art canvases for the rooms. “Freshman year, she would make dorm art and things for free for her friends,” Crane said. “For our birthdays, she would paint us stuff. When we moved into her apartment outside the dorm, she wanted to take it more seriously.” When Lavie decided to post her art on Instagram, her business quickly took off. “The first thing that got me well known was one of my LSU college canvases; that really made my account blow up,” Lavie said.
COURTESY OF MADDIE LAVIE
A painted pink tiger by Maddie Lavie. Shortly after her canvases got popular, she started to paint banners and numeral signs. Banners and other signs are popular at LSU as personalized party decor, and are often used
FOR RELEASE AUGUST 31, 2026
THE Daily Commuter Puzzle by Stella Zawistowski
COURTESY OF MADDIE LAVIE
Maddie Lavie displays her artwork, including handmade pins, paintings and signs. as backdrops and photo props. Birthday signs in particular are known for being used to take group pictures during a party. Now, she is known for her 21st birthday signs, with a numeral “2” and a stylized numeral “1” in the shape of a champagne bottle, as they are in high demand. Lavie describes the festive props as her favorite to paint. “Everyone knows me and my banners, but 21st birthday signs are so fun,” Lavie said. “I have the most fun painting those because they’re just glittery and fun,” Lavie said. Now, Lavie’s business has grown, and she has been invited to do many sorority events at the on-campus houses. To further connect with the sororities she visits, Lavie donates 25 percent of her earnings to the host sorority’s philanthropy. To this day, her workspace is limited to the floor of her college house. In fact, she is currently painting a banner on the wall of her bedroom. “I’ve been watching her paint banners, canvas art and 21st [birthday] signs for at least two years now,” Crane said. Her best-selling piece is an LSU themed painting that many students have used to deco-
rate their dorms to show their school spirit. It features Mike the Tiger, the shape of Louisiana, colloquially known as the Boot, and Tiger Stadium, different shades of purple and gold.
COURTESY OF MADDIE LAVIE
Maddie Lavie’s best-selling LSU themed painting. If you’re looking to surprise your friend with a birthday banner, in need of a pin to rock for game days or wanting some handmade decor for your house, Lavie may be just the artist you are looking for. For more updates on Lavie’s business, visit @madeebymaddiee on Instagram.
ACROSS 1 Change with the times 6 Honda’s luxury brand 11 Possess 14 Book of scriptures 15 Tattoo remover 16 Greek R 17 Gymnast’s apparatus: 2 wds. 19 Veterans Day month: Abbr. 20 “Blonde” beers 21 Metal-bearing rock 22 Indian spice blend 24 Meditation phrase 27 Titled British women 28 Insist on 31 Famed Memphis street 33 “__ seen worse” 34 Offset, as costs 37 Odds and __ 40 Bread with a pocket 42 Big antlered animal 43 Hit the brakes 44 Serb or Pole, e.g. 45 Most enjoyable 47 TV host Navarro 48 Yellowish alloy 50 Discount retail store 52 Ruin 54 “__ no point” 57 Contact a talk show: 2 wds. 59 Spanish cheer 60 “That’s funny!”: 2 wds. 64 Singer Lennox 65 Argentina’s capital: 2 wds. 68 House sections: Abbr. 69 Bar of gold 70 Make-or-__ 71 Starchy tuber 72 Make noise while asleep 73 Celebrities DOWN 1 “Chiquitita” band
8/31/26
Created by Stella Zawistowski
2 Watch face 3 Having the skill 4 Liquid part of blood 5 Top-__ list 6 Phone notification 7 Highland Games pole 8 Draw on 9 Pack of paper 10 Naval fleet 11 Decorative 12 The __ shebang 13 Exploding stars 18 Disapproves of 23 Markdown events 25 Cookies __ cream 26 Humiliate 28 Quick swims 29 Dastardly 30 Energy-making process 32 Ugly buildings 35 Palm off (on) 36 Mythical bird 38 Finished 39 Expectorated
Saturday’s Puzzle Solved
©2026 Tribune Content Agency, LLC All Rights Reserved.
41 Singer Lavigne 46 Monday follower: Abbr. 49 Courtroom excuses 51 Hanes top 52 Frightening 53 City of Italy 55 High integrity
8/31/26
56 Mexican corn dish 58 Director Trevor 61 Locale 62 Perceive with the ears 63 Inquires 66 Sense of self 67 Tummy muscles
Monday, August 31, 2026
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Serving in the season opener 5-year senior right
Freshman defensive specialist
side Tireh Smith
Kiley Brooks (1) and junior
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Monday, August 31, 2026
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Junior middle blocker Jessica Jones (7) serves the ball.
Outside hitter Jurnee
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Robinson (5), junior middle
am
es
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Freshman defensive specialist Kiley Brooks (1) serves the ball.
er
blocker Jessica Jones (7),
Outside
sophomore setter Takyla Brown
hitter Jurnee
(25), and defensive specialist Ella
Robinson (5)
Hemmings (8) celebrate.
serves the ball.
LSU volleyball opens season with a 3-2 win over Wake Forest at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center Friday, Aug. 28.
Monday, August 31, 2026
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BY PAUL TIBBETS Staff Writer All of your pasta and pavlova needs can be met on the second floor of LSU’s Student Union. Prima Après is serving a sublime swirl of Italian entrees and French desserts. Prima Après is not new to the Baton Rouge food scene; it has been consistently providing unique menu items to residents since its opening in the summer of 2024. A little over a year after that, co-founders James Vitrano and Abney Harper took their business to the Student Union to be featured in the Union’s monthly pop-up series on campus during the fall of 2025. Just one semester later, the restaurant was invited back to have its very own spot on the second floor. Since January, Prima Après has been supplying LSU students with pasta, soup, toasties, pastries and more. What to get at Prima Après is a no brainer — after all, its name is in direct reference to its two most popular menu items: “Prima” means first in Italian and “Après” means after in French As the Prima Après website puts it, “Pasta first. Pavlova after.” With that, I suppose it is only fair to start with the pasta. The Prima Après at LSU offers four
standout pasta options when building your own entree. I chose the distinctively circular orecchiette, but if you go you could also get similarly unique pastas such as gemelli, mafalda or radiatori. Mixed in and atop my pasta were the garlic lemon butter sauce, chicken, bread crumbs, pecorino cheese and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes. This sauce is a perfectly balanced choice to go with your meal, sporting a velvety butter base with the extra fresh and zesty addition of lemon and garlic. It works so that you do not feel overwhelmed with any fattiness, but it is not too light to forgo the richness. As someone who had never actually heard of a pavlova prior to trying to Prima Après, I was shocked when the employee behind the counter handed me this tower of sugar. A typical pavlova is closer in both size and presentation to a cake. It is a whole platter of meringue baked so that it has a hard shell exterior and a fluffy marshmallow-like interior. Prima Après takes this foundation and elevates it to a dessert that is equal parts daunting and delicious. Its version of the pavlova is a bottom layer of vanilla bean ice cream, a middle layer of meringue and a top layer of whipped cream, along with
a plethora of fun toppings. Mine featured roasted almonds, white chocolate swirls and a drizzle of caramel sauce. In this configuration the size of my head, the sweetness is almost overwhelming. Most of the ingredients essentially amount to being sugar in different forms. However, this is still a delightful treat — especially to help with the summer heat. Both the ice cream and the meringue by themselves are great, but I was told by the employee who made my pavlova that the best way to eat it is to crunch up the meringue and combine it. This is undoubtedly the superior approach to this confection. Chunks of meringue wading through a sea of ice cream enhance the experience by providing that satisfying crunch to juxtapose the silky soft serve. If you have not given Prima Après a chance, I would recommend it. It is are a relatively inexpensive and perfectly satisfying place to fuel up when crunching in a meal between classes. To see the hours of the Student Union location of Prima Après, check out their section on the LSU Dining website. For more information on the company and other locations, visit the Prima Après website.
’S PLA L U A
TE
This Italian and French fusion spot serves up savory and sweet meals
P
FOOD & RESTAURANT
PAUL TIBBETS / The Reveille
Prima Après’ selection of desserts in the LSU Student Union.
PAUL TIBBETS / The Reveille
Rating: 8/10
Prima Après in the LSU Student Union.
CAMPUS LIFE
Check out these campus locations for free student resources BY CHARLOTTE TRENTALANGE Staff Writer Gearing up for a new semester on campus, while exciting, can bring a lot of stress — particularly financial. Whether it’s spending hundreds of dollars on textbooks, a parking pass or a fun night with friends, the costs add up quickly and are oftentimes daunting. What many students don’t know,
or at least don’t take advantage of, the countless perks included in their tuition bill. From doctor’s appointments to tutoring, LSU’s free resources can ease some of the financial burden, so you can focus on the things that matter this semester. Student Health Center We’ve all had those days when our health makes us feel helpless. Whether you’re battling sickness or feeling overwhelmed by the weight
MATTHEW PERSCHALL / The Reveille
The LSU Student Government office sits open on May 3, 2022, inside the Student Union.
of college and need someone to talk to, taking care of yourself can sometimes feel like one more thing on an already overwhelming schedule. For LSU Tigers, the Student Health Center on Infirmary Road offers everything from STI testing to mental health services. Appointments can be made by calling the office or visiting in person. Student Government office For the classes that require printing notes or charts, the Student Government office in the Student Union offers up to 150 free pages of printing a year, as well as Scantrons and blue books for exams. Center for Academic Success Planning for your semester is even easier with free organizing sheets and calendars from the Center for Academic Success. Calendars include days off school and a place to write important reminders like due dates, exams and projects. Shell Tutorial Center The Shell Tutorial Center, located on the first floor of the LSU Library, offers free tutoring for when you’re struggling with an assignment or need a refresher for an exam. Schedule appointments and check tutoring hours on the Shell Tutoring Center website. University Recreation From free bikes and kayak rentals to Nintendo Switches and lap-
tops, the University Recreation Center offers plenty of opportunities to have fun. Check out its full list of available equipment and how to rent out on the UREC website. The UREC also offers countless free workout classes throughout the week. Main Library Caught in the middle of a spontaneous storm on campus? The LSU Main Library offers umbrella rentals so you can make it to your classes safe and dry. Students can also check out laptops, phone chargers, calculators and more. Check out the full list on LSU Libraries website. Olinde Career Center The Olinde Career Center has everything you need to help in your professional life. Whether it’s your first time applying for a job or you’ve never created a resume before, the Olinde Center is there to help you navigate every step of the way, offering services like resume checks, mock interviews, headshots and a selection of professional clothing. Make appointments through Handshake. Global Community Center Swap Shop Furnishing a dorm or apartment can get expensive fast; located at 3365 Dalrymple Drive students can visit the Swap Shop and pick up essentials like kitchenware, bedding and small home goods for free. The
EVAN TOUCHET / The Reveille
A sign sits June 7 at the LSU Main Library. shop is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. LSU Food Pantry The LSU Food Pantry located on the first floor of the Student Union offers free groceries to students. Check out its Instagram for hours and more information. College is expensive enough, so it’s worth taking advantage of these freebies whenever you get the chance. Before spending money on something you may be able to get for free, check what LSU has to offer; you may be surprised by how many student discounts are available.
SPORTS PROS CAN PLAY
Louisiana judge rules former pros can play in college, goes against SEC
BY RAMI BURKS Deputy Sports Editor A Louisiana district court judge added the SEC and its commissioner, Greg Sankey, to an existing temporary restraining order on Friday, allowing former NFL players to play at the collegiate level. On Thursday, a Texas judge issued a similar restraining order against the SEC, Sankey and the NCAA. This granted more than 40
plaintiffs a fifth year of eligibility in NCAA sports. Louisiana followed the bordering state’s lead after the SEC ruled on Tuesday that any players who have declared and proceeded with NFL, NBA or WNBA drafts, or played in any of the professional or affiliate leagues, would not be allowed to return to the SEC. These temporary restraining orders only last 14 days, which sets the Louisiana hearing date for Thursday, only two days be-
fore LSU football and Lane Kiffin’s home season opener against Clemson. The Louisiana case includes former Ole Miss tight end Dae’Quan Wright, who was also on the Cleveland Browns roster for the NFL preseason. It was announced on Aug. 23 that he would be returning to the SEC, but this time donning the purple and gold. Wright’s appeal to return to the NCAA comes from the five-
for-five rule that was passed in June. This rule gives all collegiate athletes to have five years of eligibility. Because of this, the most recent collegiate graduating class is filing class-action lawsuits to gain an extra fifth year of eligibility. The NCAA has allowed these students to play their fifth year of eligibility, but the SEC and Big 10 are not permitting schools to have players who turned pro back on the roster.
FOOTBALL
Column: LSU football’s new coaches, players set the stage for electrifying 2026 campaign BY BROOKE BENEDICT Sports Columnist LSU football heads into one of its most anticipated seasons yet, as the new and improved program is set to take the stage in Tiger Stadium on Saturday to face the Clemson Tigers. After a historic offseason, with head coach Lane Kiffin takeover and a renovated roster, there’s a lot to look forward to as an LSU fan, from both the field and the sidelines. With the team consistently making headlines this summer, the program is projected to be a top-ranked SEC team, as well as a playoff contender. But there’s more to the excitement than meets the eye, or the Top 25 preseason poll, where the Tigers are ranked No. 11. The roster renovation After a dramatic switch from one SEC school to another late last fall, Kiffin quickly got to work building up a new roster with a massive portal attack. He brought in some of the nation’s top-ranked portal players, highlighted by quarterback Sam Leavitt from Arizona State, offensive tackle Jordan Seaton from Colorado, safety Ty Benefield from Boise State and wide receiver Jayce Brown from Kansas State. With new faces all over the roster, Kiffin and his team have been piecing together the talent puzzle this fall camp, shaping an elite identity to face off against the tough SEC opponents the season will bring. These standout additions, matched with major depth across the position rooms, will not only bring new faces to Tiger Stadium, but also a different momentum the program will ride on. With Leavitt as the new of-
fensive leader, and a brand new wide receiver room with Brown, Jackson Harris from Hawaii, Eugene Wilson III from Florida and Tre’ Brown III from Old Dominion, LSU’s offense will put up a consistent talent show and become a major scoring machine. Not to forget about star veteran Trey’Dez Green at tight end, who’s already hinting at a powerful duo with Leavitt this fall camp. On the defense, Benefield is taking over the secondary, with veterans Jhase Thomas and Dashawn Spears rotating through the position this season to become a receiver’s biggest threat. There are major portal additions to add to the unit, but the veterans will steal the spotlight, with senior linebacker Whit Weeks and sophomore cornerback DJ Pickett continue to hold down opponents.
Whether it’s from a portal addition, incoming freshman or seasoned veteran, there’s expected to be breakout seasons from many players across the roster. With multiple players expected to be top-tier, the talent production will be contagious across the field, creating an elite momentum that the Tigers will ride on all season. And it’s not just the momentum that Kiffin commands. The mentor mindset New faces won’t just take up the starting positions on the field, but all across the sidelines and even stretching to the coach’s box. Kiffin didn’t cross state lines alone this offseason. He brought in a talented coaching staff from Ole Miss, including offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. and assistant head coach Kevin Smith.
Then, he went and brought a familiar face to the program, rehiring Ed Orgeron to assist in recruiting and defense. Orgeron brought LSU its fifth national championship in 2019. Now that the team has some of the best players in the country filling important roles on the roster and being mentored by some of the most respected names in college football, LSU is starting to look like a mini NFL team. It’s just a matter of time until fans get to watch them play like one. It’s been a whirlwind of an offseason in Baton Rouge, and fans will finally get a front row seat to the final product in less than two weeks. There will be the same songs from the band and the same chants from the crowd, but there’s a new energy in Tiger Stadium this fall that the historic offseason has fueled.
LUKE RAY / The Reveille
LSU football redshirt sophomore wide receiver Kyle Parker (12) celebrates after LSU scores a touchdown during LSU’s game against the University of Houston on Dec. 27 at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.
page 9 BASKETBALL
Mulkey evaluating forward options BY ADAM KIRSCHMAN Staff Writer After Kate Koval’s abrupt departure and the earlier loss of Amiya Joyner, the question of which new big will break into the LSU women’s basketball starting lineup is on every fan’s mind. With only about two months until the season opener against Southeastern Louisiana, head coach Kim Mulkey will likely have to utilize one of her young prospects frequently this season. Fortunately, Mulkey notably brought in three top freshmen bigs over the offseason. She trusts all of them to have the skill set to make a difference right out of the gate. Even though only two of the five forwards have in-game experience, other teams should not completely look past this group. Mulkey brought in very talented prospects, including All-American Lola Lampley and former international pros Anna Minaeva and Noa Morro. These freshmen will pair up with Meghan Yarnevich and former five-star prospect Grace Knox. Despite not having definite starters at this moment, Mulkey has not seemed flustered. Instead, she’s focused on getting this group of young bigs experience early. One of the key benefits of this group is how different each player is from one another, giving Mulkey a lot of opportunities to figure out what group of two will pair up the best in the frontcourt. Minaeva is an old-school low post player who has great paint scoring and rebounding ability. The 17 year old Russian stands at 6-foot-5, the tallest player on LSU’s roster. Minaeva averaged 9.6 rebounds with MBA Moscow last season, which is where she will likely be needed most this season after LSU lost its two top rebounders from last season, Koval and Joyner. Another reason Mulkey loves this prospect is due to her experience playing at a higher level. At only 17 years old, Minaeva made a name for herself in the Russian Women’s Basketball Premier League and the Russian Super League, two professional leagues where she faced players of various ages and playing backgrounds. Mulkey has always been a great developer of low-post
see FORWARDS, page 10
Monday, August 31, 2026
page 10 FORWARDS, from page 9 bigs, and Minaeva seems to have all the tools needed to thrive in this system. “I’m thrilled to welcome Anna to our LSU family,” Mulkey said. “She has the experience, skill set and size to make an immediate impact in our frontcourt.” Morro is another incoming prospect with plenty of skill to help her transition to the NCAA. Morro was a versatile forward who played for KutxaBank Araski, a Spanish team in the EuroLeague. Morro joins the Tigers after averaging 8 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. Like Minaeva, Morro is no stranger to playing tougher competition. She even got experience playing with WNBA-caliber talents, like Awa Fam, the third overall pick by the Seattle Storm in the 2026 WNBA Draft. Morro’s 36.5 percent threepoint conversion rate also gives Mulkey offensive flexibility in the frontcourt and could create mismatches against poor perimeter-defending bigs. “Noa is a player we’re excited to welcome to LSU,” Mulkey said. “She brings size, skill and versatility to our team, and her ability to step out and shoot the three makes her an exciting fit for the way the game is played today. She has competed at a
high level, and we believe Tiger fans are going to love what she brings to this program.” Lampley is another exciting talent from this year’s freshman class. The four-star forward from Indianapolis, Ind., was ranked in the top 30 of every major recruiting list, and topped off a 1,000-point high school career with an All-American selection. Lampley was highly coveted as a wing recruit this offseason for her six-foot-two frame and defensive attributes. Lampley can stretch between a wing and forward, and her strength and quickness make her able to guard all five positions. Lampley should fit perfectly into the gritty, defensive style of basketball Mulkey loves to play. Lampley’s defense should work perfectly next to fellow All-American Grace Knox. Knox is a former five-star out of Las Vegas. The sophomore stepped up in a big way last season, averaging 18.5 minutes through 33 games played while also getting minutes all through last year’s NCAA Tournament run. Knox averaged 8.8 points and 4.6 rebounds per game in her freshman year, solid numbers for a first-year bench player. Knox’s biggest impact might have been on the defensive side of the ball. Knox averaged 1.3 blocks and steals per game, but
a lot of Knox’s impact was not recorded on the stat sheet. Knox seems to play every game at maximum intensity. She intimidates opponents through a bully-ball style of play, diving at every loose ball. Mulkey loves players like this, and with the forward positions vacant, Knox
likely will be a core starter this season. “Grace is gifted with an incredible ability to rebound,” Mulkey said. “Her tenacity on the boards, combined with her all-around offensive skill set, make her a tough matchup.” Although nothing is guar-
anteed with these young frontcourt options, Mulkey has a great group of players who have all the tools needed to perform in the SEC. Mulkey has a long history of developing great bigs, and LSU fans should be excited to see who could break out in her system.
CHANDLER TROTTER / The Reveille
LSU women’s basketball freshman guard Bella Hines (3) and freshman forward Grace Knox (2) box out Nov. 20 during LSU’s 112-49 win against Alcorn at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
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OPINION
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Don’t settle for situationships. Commit through courtship BOYNES BULLETIN SAVANNAH BOYNES Columnist If you or a loved one has suffered from a situationship, then courtship might be the right move for you. Most college students are no stranger to the average situationship. It creeps into your life by way of butterflies in the stomach after a text back, and it leaves an ache in your chest after your would-be partner admits they’re simply not ready for the commitment. With this lovelorn loop, driven in a digital age driven by funny quipping and a serious
problem with commitment, situationships were always bound to be labeled as such — a “situation” that freezes out any sign of love, at least not with a label. There is little doubt that most people who find themselves in these predicaments are looking for a serious relationship, but young romantics downplaying their situational anguish through a private story or repost will soon find that the label itself dilutes love’s sincerity. This trivialization begins with slang. The slang differs across generations; it comes in the form of multiple obscure and often ditzy labels for love. Now, relationship labels evolve as human connection does. Children’s hearts swell for
the playground crush that zooms across mulch-covered ground, teenagers quickly glance across hallways to catch the eye of their “talking stage” and young adults’ fingers hover over screens as their situationships take a little longer than desired to respond. Relationship alone, it seems, has become much too big of a word for our generation. It screams devotion, vulnerability and affection to another that most would today find too demanding, especially if one adheres to a typical college schedule. After all, it seems much easier to fall in and out of strangers’ lives. As a concept, a situationship defines the gray area of the pre-dating stage. There lies some chemistry; however, the lack of
CARMEN RANDOLPH / The Reveille
exclusivity combined with superficial interest and strict digital communication glaringly defies the education system of love. Students navigating higher education often find ways to stay on top of assignments, communicate directions with their professors and even ideate their social life. In this amalgamation of self-discovery, they ought to apply their learning strategies to the dating scene. Application doesn’t come easy, but it can start with a redirection from the perspective of the situationship to the promise of courtship. “Situation,” as the modifier in situationship, implies someone stuck in an uncomfortable setting; it confirms incongruity between how one is and desires to be spending their time. Courtship alludes to intent; it implies intent to witness, to connect and to love. If this courting ends before a union, one should interpret it as a lesson to learn from the past, not to repeat it. Courting might be thought of as the period right before a marriage or even included in arranged marriages where the individuals have little to no choice in the matter; however, the modern dating scene allows for courtship to be about choice. Instead of using social media, a dating app or a friend of a friend to automatically place you in a situationship, courting requires wooing a prospective partner. It supplies actual intent behind the usual romantic signals. A courtship mindset also provides soon-to-be couples with time to include each other in their lives — suitors can learn not only about whom they are courting but also about themselves through this process. This
allows people to more easily determine what they want in a life partner, what they want in life altogether and what they can do to reach those desires properly. Courtship allows young people to develop romance with the long term in mind. Situationships, though appearing much later in history, at least formally, contradicts the former. Though the term “courtship” is actually derived from the word “courtier,” it is perhaps useful to imagine courtship as being involved in a courtroom. With yourself as the judge, jury and executioner, you can reflect on tender moments as evidence supporting or not supporting a relationship in order to determine if the serious label suits the situation. Then, you can choose to proceed with the relationship if you see fit. This precludes you from being locked into a situation fueled by fear of embarrassment or vulnerability. That said, if you’re not also working as the court stenographer in archiving your courting, you’ll forget the testimony that will guide you in devotion’s direction. Your court’s intrinsic roles are meant to map both falling in and out of love. Don’t forget that. The above metaphor may aid in dissuading yourself from settling for anything less than courtship. After all, it is ultimately not an embarrassment to mistake a brief connection as a lifeline; it is, however, an embarrassment to downplay tender connection at the expense of personal enlightenment. Savannah Boynes is a 20-yearold journalism and screen arts double-major from Madisonville.
Take learning seriously by making curiosity your curriculum WARREN’S WAY JEANNE WARREN Columnist As the new semester begins at LSU, many students find themselves setting promising goals. We swear to attend all of our classes, to do all of our work before it’s due and to maintain perfect grades. In theory, this is ideal and manageable; however, a month goes by, and we’re suddenly swamped with work and already feeling signs of burnout. It becomes easy to lose the motivation we once had. It usually starts with beginning to skip classes that do not have mandatory attendance. All of this is very understandable. There are few people that want to wake up for an 8
a.m. class during the first week of school, fight for a parking spot for an hour and trek 15 minutes in the blistering heat to each class. Factors like this quickly make students give up on a course before it even begins. Limited parking and extreme heat may not be the only reasons a student begins to skip class, but they certainly help. As an incoming junior that has made the mistake of getting into the habit of skipping classes, I can say that it is integral to your education to find the discipline not to skip. The second thing I’ve realized is that, on top of actually attending class, I actually have to participate in class. I believe that there are two ways you can skip a class: Mentally and physically. Physically, you can choose
not to go. Mentally, you can go, hole up in the back of the lecture hall and tune out your professor. Either way, you are only hurting yourself. It is much harder to absorb and remember information if you are not actively engaged. Class is boring: I get it. That said, not going or not participating doesn’t make it any easier. It’s hard to enjoy a class if you’re doing everything in your power to avoid being in it. Cramming information and reading slides for homework, a quiz or an exam is unappealing in and of itself. I have found that actually attending my classes, sitting at the front, and being actively engaged has greatly improved my attention span, my discipline, my desire to go to class and, most importantly, my grades. On top of this, it has im-
proved my social life. I’ve had many genuine friendships sprout from people that were once strictly my classmates. Skipping classes not only becomes a disservice to yourself and your education; it also becomes a disservice to others. Students who are eager to go to class in order to learn do not want to walk into a room of empty seats. Similarly, this can be applied to students who go to class, but don’t participate at all. Good students who want to learn don’t want to sit next to peers with blank stares, they want peers who are engaged. Coming from someone who has done this, you are missing out on growth and connection — whether it’s connection with students in your class, your professors or your connection to the content itself.
Oftentimes, I find that students are just afraid. They are afraid to engage in class, to raise a hand and ask questions. Disengagement is often chosen over asking active questions for fear of being wrong. At least when you are wrong, you can learn something when a professor or peer corrects you. Learning isn’t about being right all of the time; if it were, it would just be called knowing. Professors, for the most part, are eager to help students. They want to see you in their office hours, they want to see you work and try to do better. So, I encourage you to make curiosity part of your curriculum. It is a gift to learn — don’t forget that. Jeanne Warren is a 20-year-old mass communications major from Baton Rouge.
Monday, August 31, 2026
page 12
LSU, city should work together on Nicholson’s development CRAWFORD’S CORNER GORDON CRAWFORD Columnist As the new school year begins, Tigers have returned to campus to discover a new, horrifying sight: Orange signs and traffic guards along one of campus’ primary arteries, Nicholson Road. Just weeks ago, Baton Rouge broke ground on a massive $28 million expansion to Nicholson, with the new project adding 2 lanes and additional pedestrian and biking infrastructure. This project is unquestionably an overall positive move. Nicholson has long been insufficient in supporting a constantly growing student population and the rapid development of south Baton Rouge. However, the new construction has presented LSU students with a number of serious challenges. In the short-term, the perennial traffic issues in the south campus have been exacerbated. At times, traffic has shut down to single-lane, alternating traffic, leading to nigh-standstill flow. This is a particularly difficult situation for the many denizens of the complexes near south campus who rely on LSU buses to get around. TransLoc is rarely able to adapt quickly to chang-
ing conditions, meaning posted times significantly deviate from reality. Just the other day, I left my apartment a couple miles south of campus with about 45 minutes to spare before class. I ultimately made it around a minute before it began. There are a few strategies that LSU should consider to help mitigate some of the negative side effects of construction. A simple one would be to better space out buses on the line. As it is, buses frequently cluster together on routes, leaving students on the other end of the line effectively stranded until the buses are able to weave their way back to them. While staggering the lines may slightly increase the average wait time as fewer students are picked up at high-traffic locations like the Student Union Lot, it would make the lines more consistent with posted arrival times. These traffic issues are a significant annoyance but they are ultimately in service of the greater goal of improved infrastructure. That said, even the new changes leave me with concerns, primarily with how the plans will handle Tigerland. Hordes of inebriated college students mixed with four lanes of high-speed traffic seems like a recipe for disaster. Tigerland has a long history of traffic incidents, some of which were fatal, and incentivizing greater motor traffic in the area seems like a
risky gamble. Details on what exactly the layout and design of the pedestrian elements of the new development will entail remain somewhat murky. Public statements from officials indicate that there will be wide, shared-use lanes for both pedestrians and cyclists, while conceptual designs for the project show dedicated bike lanes with a separated sidewalk. Both designs face challenges when dealing with the Tigerland crowd. Intoxicated people rarely tend to walk in a straight line, presenting a challenge to bikers. Meanwhile, the conceptual design gives bikers minimal room
to move off of the road. The fundamental problem is this: LSU has a very clear vision of moving towards a pedestrianfirst approach to campus design, particularly by removing additional internal parking spaces and planning to move toward an essentially car-free core campus. However, Baton Rouge is embracing the classic American philosophy of “just a couple more lanes, and we’ll fix traffic, we promise.” There must be closer communication and collaboration between the city to more effectively integrate campus design with new project developments. If you want to make your city
walkable, you need to actually re-evaluate your core planning principles instead of just slapping a sidewalk by what practically serves as a highway. In any case, I do still hold deep optimism that the changes will ultimately be more of an improvement for south campus residents. I love the new turn lanes, and though it is quite a hike, I would love the option to walk to campus. That said, I wish Baton Rouge wouldn’t try to have its cake and eat it too. Gordon Crawford is a 20-yearold political science major from Gonzales.
ALEXIS PERSICKE / The Reveille
Cars drive by Aug. 25 on Nicholson Drive.
You’re not ‘just a girl.’ Don’t let gender determine your worth JOHNSON’S JOURNAL LAUREN JOHNSON Columnist You’re not “just a girl.” You’re a person with little self-respect if you believe that about yourself. It’s become common for women to throw around the phrase “I’m just a girl” when justifying simple mistakes or excusing themselves from everyday tasks. We say it as if it’s something silly or cute while actively degrading our womanhood in doing so. Women can do anything men can do, and even jokingly implying the opposite has serious consequences. Women already live in a system working against them — we don’t need to help perpetuate the notion that women are naive and incapable be-
cause of their gender. It’s more than “I’m just a girl.” It’s “girl math.” It’s “girlboss.” It’s everything that infantilizes what it means to be a woman. No one uses “boyboss” when a man in power is doing his job, so why do people use this turn of phrase with women? Why do people act as though unserious logic used to arrive at quasimath-based conclusions is something to attribute only to women? Why is being a woman “just” anything? Phrases like these ingrain themselves into our society like a disease. They are almost always deeply rooted in misogyny, although many would not notice the negative connotations they have. This isn’t new. Gender-related microaggressions have always been used to belittle women.
Think about labels like Debbie Downer, Plain Jane, Lazy Susan, Chatty Cathy or Negative Nancy. Meanwhile, men are the ones who have Smart Alec, Handy Andy, Ready Freddy, Even Steven, or Joe Cool. It runs deeper than you may think. Sayings like these don’t just appear; they’re handed down through the years to encourage the belief that women aren’t as good as men. For this reason, the “I’m just a girl” phenomenon needs to end. Women have to be careful with their phrasing and check their sense of self, because there is no reason to put up with these negative and untrue implications of gender. If a woman undervalues herself — behaving as though she is incapable, constantly declaring how incompetent she is or acting like she doesn’t know what’s go-
ing on — the people around her will believe her. She’ll come to believe these things about herself too. Women need to show up as equals. We need to show up as women, not “just girls.” It is an uphill battle, even in today’s world, to fight for gender equality. This is not to say a woman deserves to be treated poorly if she happens to perpetuate this stigma. That is far from true. In fact, there are men who will see a woman as lesser than regardless of what she does — they simply hold a misogynistic viewpoint that looks down upon women in general. However, there are also women who display that they don’t respect themselves. How are people expected to respect each other if we cannot even respect ourselves?
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The Reveille (USPS 145-800) is written, edited and produced solely by students of Louisiana State University. The Reveille is an independent entity of the Office of Student Media within the Manship School of Mass Communication. Signed opinions are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the editor, The Reveille or the university. Letters submitted for publication should be sent via e-mail to editor@lsu.edu or delivered to B-39 Hodges Hall. They must be 400 words or less. Letters must provide a contact phone number for verification purposes, which will not be printed. The Reveille reserves the right to edit letters and guest columns for space consideration while preserving the original intent. The Reveille also reserves the right to reject any letter without notification of the author. Writers must include their full names and phone numbers. The Reveille’s editor in chief, hired every semester by the LSU Student Media Board, has final authority on all editorial decisions.
A woman infantilizing herself is grounds for being infantilized by others as well. This isn’t a good thing. It’s weaponized incompetence. It’s not because you’re a woman that you feel the need to make your helplessness and inability to function your entire personality. It is a separate issue centered around who you are as a person, not defined by your gender. Stop enabling harmful language and perpetuating behaviors that are degrading to women. Start seeing yourself exactly as you are — just as strong, admirable and capable as everyone around you. You aren’t just a girl: You are a woman. Act like one. Lauren Johnson is a 20-yearold journalism major from New Orleans.
Quote of the Week “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” Eleanor Roosevelt
First Lady, diplomat, humanitarian 1884 — 1962