On Facebook
On Flipboard
On Twitter
Jay Johnson and the LSU Tigers are back in the National Championship with a matchup against the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers set for this weekend at Charles Schwab Field.
After stunning the Arkansas Razorbacks on Wednesday night, the Bayou Bengals are back in the College World Series Finals with all eyes on bringing hardware back to Baton Rouge.
"Looking forward to playing a great opponent in Coastal Carolina and Coach Schnall. I've known him for a very long time. Consider him a friend. And obviously have had long-term respect for a program that's been one of the best in college baseball over the last couple of decades," Johnson said.
"So wouldn't want to have it any other way and very thankful for the team and the efforts that they put forward to put us in this position and looking forward to a great championship series."
LSU is headlined by a myriad of Louisiana natives looking the represent the purple and gold with Kade Anderson, Jake Brown and more ready to compete for a title.
"It's awesome. It's something I've dreamed for my entire life, as I know other Louisiana guys on the team have. This is everything that you've worked for coming up," Brown said.
"In Louisiana your dream is to play baseball for LSU. And what goes with that is being able to represent it at the highest level of college baseball, which this program has been able to do year in and year out. And really just super thankful for the opportunity I've been gifted with and looking to make the most out of it."
Now, the stage is set. LSU will square off against Coastal Carolina with Game 1 set for Saturday night in Omaha.
A look into the final betting lines heading into the matchup and College World Series Finals schedule.
The Finals Betting Lines: LSU vs. Coastal Carolina
*Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook*
LSU: -1.5 (+114)
Coastal Carolina: +1.5 (-145)
Over/Under: 8.5 runs
Money Line:
- LSU: -160
- Coastal Carolina: +124
Johnson and the LSU Tigers enter Saturday night's clash as 1.5 run favorites with Coastal Carolina currently coming in as the underdog.
LSU, according to DraftKings Sportsbook, is favored at -190 to win the College World Series Finals while Coast Carolina has +155 odds.
A look into the College World Series results and the full weekend schedule for the National Championship series.
CWS Finals Game One
— LSU Baseball (@LSUbaseball) June 21, 2025
Coastal Carolina
Charles Schwab Field
⏰ 6:00 p.m. CT
https://t.co/JP5If42iJc
98.1 FM (https://t.co/W2pzd3eZvf)
ESPN (https://t.co/mMJUIHZsBx) pic.twitter.com/AWJrXvHHks
The Updated College World Series Bracket and Results:
Friday, June 13
Game 1 – Coastal Carolina 7, Arizona 4
Game 2 – Oregon State 4, Louisville 3
Saturday, June 14
Game 3 – UCLA 6, Murray State 4
Game 4 – LSU 4, Arkansas 1
Sunday, June 15
Game 5 – Louisville 8, Arizona 3 [Arizona Eliminated]
Game 6 – Coastal Carolina 6, Oregon State 2
Monday, June 16
Game 7 – Arkansas 3, Murray State 0 [Murray State Eliminated]
Tuesday, June 17
Game 8 – LSU 9, UCLA 5
Game 9 – Louisville 7 vs. Oregon State 6 [Oregon State Eliminated]
Game 10 – Arkansas 7 vs. UCLA 3 [UCLA Eliminated]
Wednesday, June 18
Game 11 – Coastal Carolina 11 vs. Louisville 3
Game 12 – LSU 6 vs. Arkansas 5
CWS Finals: LSU Tigers vs. Coastal Carolina Chanticleers
(All Times Eastern)
Game 1 (June 21): (13) Coastal Carolina vs. (6) LSU | 7 p.m. | ESPN (ESPN+)
Game 2 (June 22): (13) Coastal Carolina vs. (6) LSU | 2:30 p.m. | ABC
Game 3 (June 23): (If Necessary): (13) Coastal Carolina vs. (6) LSU | 7 p.m. | ESPN (ESPN+)
More LSU News:
LSU Football Wide Receiver Donating NIL Money Back to High School for Title Rings
LSU Football Holds Commitments From a Pair of Top-10 Wide Receivers in America
Brian Kelly's Take: LSU Football Searching for Ideal Starting Offensive Line Rotation
More must-reads:
- Packers HC bothered by rookie's 'unacceptable' behavior during preseason game
- Who could be the odd man out in Browns QB room?
- The 'Most multi-HR games by MLB team' quiz
Breaking News
Trending News
Customize Your Newsletter
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
TODAY'S BEST
Years Ago, There Was a Dangerous Herpes Outbreak At WWE NXT
In WWE, there are times when an outbreak of certain diseases occurs. It can happen in gyms and athletic environments. The goal for every sports organization is to keep everyone safe. Well, in WWE years ago, it was revealed that there was a severe outbreak that happened in NXT. The outbreak that occurred involved a disease called Herpes. How Did This Herpes Outbreak Get Revealed? This bit of information was revealed by former WWE superstars Mandy Rose and Tino Sabbatelli. Both have their own podcast titled the “Power Alphas” podcast. They are a real-life married couple and always tell stories about their careers in pro wrestling and their current lives. In their latest episode, Rose and Sabbatelli discussed an outbreak during their days wrestling in WWE’s NXT brand. Rose said the following quote regarding that situation: “Then we had to clean the rings in NXT, because there was a herpes outbreak. I don’t even know if everyone knows that one. Remember Daria (Sonya Deville) had the Ninja Turtles thing on with the vacuum. I think this is the beautiful thing, too, that I get why they do this for most people, as well as because there’s always, you know, a bottom. You always have to work your way out. But things have changed a lot in WWE.” Sabbatelli in the podcast did not even want to be reminded of that situation, and it reminded him of an awkward time. Nobody should blame him because Herpes is no joke whatsoever. In fact, as of 2025, there is no cure for Herpes. The Wrestlers Also Had To Clean the Rings As Well The wrestlers themselves had to wrestle in those rings while the outbreak was going on. They would then have to clean them in the aftermath of their training. It is crazy to think that WWE forced the wrestlers themselves to clean the rings during the outbreak, but it was a move for the new trainees to pay their dues in the business. Rose believed there was another reason why WWE forced the wrestlers to clean the rings. They wanted them to be humbled as well. Final Thoughts It must have been a super scary time for everyone involved in NXT during that time. With the outbreak going on, everybody had to be safe when getting into the ring. It is more stunning that this outbreak never got reported or revealed while it was going on. This was not the news WWE needed after the solid Triplemania XXXIII show that happened last night. WWE did its best to keep it a secret, and it took many years before one person spoke up about it. Ironically, the person who first spoke on this was Rose, who left WWE on bad terms. This situation is terrifying, and thank goodness WWE got the outbreak cleared up. This situation could have been far worse.
Dallas Cowboys' top-rated players for NFL preseason Week 2 vs. Ravens
A 31-13 loss to the Baltimore Ravens dropped the Dallas Cowboys to 0-2 this preseason. While the records don't matter, it's still unsettling to see the Cowboys lose a game in such fashion. As was the case in their Week 1 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, the Cowboys were bullied at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. They also saw quarterback Joe Milton III continue to struggle with accuracy. The good news, however, was that several players stood out with solid individual play. Here's a look at which Cowboys graded the highest on offense and defense, according to PFF. Cowboys top-5 rated players on offense Princeton Fant, TE (83.4) Malik Davis, RB (74.6) Jonathan Mingo, WR (70.3) Deuce Vaughn, RB (67.1) John Stephens Jr., TE (66.2) The offense was responsible for just six points, but there were still some bright spots. Princeton Fant had a 33-yard reception and held his own in blocking. Malik Davis showed some burst when he was on the field, and Jonathan Mingo had an excellent catch to set up a field goal. Unfortunately, Mingo was injured on the play but has been one of the bright spots throughout the offseason. Cowboys top-5 rated players on defense Andrew Booth, CB (91.8) Troy Pride Jr., CB (83.8) Jack Sanborn, LB (79.2) Earnest Brown IV, DT (76.7) Kemon Hall, CB (75.6) Andrew Booth not only led the way on defense, but was the highest-graded player on the team. Two other cornerbacks, Troy Pride Jr. and Kemon Hall, made it into the top five as well. Linebacker Jack Sanborn and defensive tackle Earnest Brown IV were there as well. Sanborn had three tackles while Brown recorded two. —
TSN Analyst Shoots Down Bold Canadiens-Ducks Trade Idea
Speculation swirled this week about a possible blockbuster trade between the Montreal Canadiens and Anaheim Ducks, but TSN/Forbes legal analyst Eric Macramalla was quick to pour cold water on the idea. The proposed deal centered around swapping top prospects: Montreal defenseman David Reinbacher and Anaheim forward Mason McTavish. On the surface, the trade has appeal. Reinbacher, a right-shot blueliner with legitimate top-pairing potential, would give the Ducks the kind of defensive cornerstone they’ve been searching for. Meanwhile, McTavish could provide the Canadiens with a much-needed second-line center behind Nick Suzuki, filling a hole that’s lingered for several seasons. But as Macramalla pointed out, the trade simply doesn’t add up for Montreal. Moving Reinbacher would leave the Canadiens dangerously thin on the right side of their defense, an area that already lacks long-term depth. While McTavish would be a strong addition, sacrificing a potential top-pairing defenseman is a price too steep for GM Kent Hughes to consider at this stage of the rebuild. Ultimately, while the concept may generate fan debate, Macramalla stressed that the Canadiens aren’t in a position to weaken their blue line just to address their center depth. For now, the deal “won’t work.” Fan Feedback: A Split Reaction Canadiens fans were quick to weigh in on the trade chatter, with opinions ranging from firm rejection to cautious interest. Some backed Macramalla’s stance, with one fan suggesting Montreal could use “other assets the Ducks would like” and another noting the Habs’ young defense core “will be a strength of the team for the next decade.” The Curfew Boys Podcast called it “1 step forward, 2 steps back.” Others saw more merit. One account argued he’d, “Do it one for one,” calling McTavish “more established at this point.” Another echoed that sentiment: “McT is a proven player, make the trade!!” Skeptics highlighted Reinbacher’s lack of NHL experience, and others questioned his durability. Meanwhile, Gord of Thunder took a playful shot at the concept, invoking The Princess Bride: “You never trade a defenseman with top pairing ability for a second line player — it’s inconceivable.” Even creative alternatives emerged, with one fan proposing a three-way deal involving Calgary. The verdict? While many fans respect McTavish’s value, most agree that giving up Reinbacher would leave the Canadiens with a hole too big to fill.
Eagles wide receiver panic meter following trade for John Metchie III
General manager Howie Roseman raised some eyebrows when he added not one, but two tight ends in free agency this offseason. As usual, there was a method to Roseman’s madness. The Philadelphia Eagles made their second trade in two weeks on Sunday, sending tight end Harrison Bryant to the Houston Texans for wide receiver John Metchie III and a swap of Day 3 draft picks. The move makes some sense for Philly’s tight end room, which is more solidified now than it was back in March. With Dallas Goedert’s contract situation now settled, and Kylen Granson seizing the TE3 spot in training camp, Bryant became an expendable trade asset. More intriguing is Philly’s developing situation at wide receiver, which has been unsettled beyond the starters since the start of OTAs. Metchie has untapped potential as a former teammate of DeVonta Smith at Alabama. The Texans made him the No. 44 overall pick in the 2022 draft, but he lost his entire rookie season after being diagnosed with Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia. He returned to the field in 2023 and has seen his role grow with the Texans over the past two seasons. Metchie has 40 career receptions in 29 games, and just one career touchdown. He now has a spot on Philly’s wide receiver depth chart for 2025, though, leaving several players in limbo entering Week 3 of the preseason. Which Eagles WRs are safe, panicking with John Metchie III entering the mix? Jahan Dotson panic meter: Low Metchie’s arrival shouldn’t impact Philly’s first-team offense. That includes Dotson, whose role as the WR3 behind A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith is solidified. Dotson will remain the fifth option in the passing game behind Brown, Smith, tight end Dallas Goedert and running back Saquon Barkley. Johnny Wilson panic meter: Medium Wilson finished 2024 as the Eagles’ No. 4 wide receiver, and there’s no reason to think he won’t resume that role this season. The Eagles like his size as a de facto tight end on the boundary, and he’s an unsung weapon for Barkley in the run game as a blocker. It’s unclear what the Eagles have planned for Metchie out of the chute, but Wilson has a niche role in the offense and shouldn’t be impacted much, if at all. Ainias Smith panic meter: Extremely High Philly’s former fifth-round pick is officially on notice. The Eagles were able to buy themselves some time with Smith last summer by placing him on injured reserve with a designation to return, but his time is running out with Metchie entering as the new WR5. An Eagles team that committed the fewest pass attempts in football last season will need to justify keeping six receivers, and while he’s shown some improvement and scored a TD against Cleveland in Saturday’s preseason game, Smith hasn’t done enough to earn that justification in camp. Darius Cooper panic meter: Moderately High We know the Eagles love Cooper, but the undrafted rookie had a rough game on Saturday vs. the Browns, along with the entire offense. Cooper was targeted on just one of his 13 passing snaps, per Pro Football Focus, and failed to make a catch. It’s not over for the training camp star out of Tarleton State, but the Eagles making a trade for Metchie barely 24 hours after the game is an ominous sign. Terrace Marshall Jr.: Very High Marshall brings some different elements to Philly’s offense with his size and speed, but he was slowed by an injury during training camp and has slipped down the depth chart after a buzzy start. Marshall will have to beat out Cooper between now and cut-down day on Aug. 26 to give himself a shot. Even so, there’s no guarantee the team will have a roster spot for him.
