LSU and Tulane are set to renew one of Louisiana’s oldest football rivalries, with the “Battle for The Rag” returning in 2030 at Tiger Stadium.
The matchup comes after a 21-year gap. The last time the Tigers and Green Wave met was in 2009, when LSU rolled to a 42-0 win. LSU has won 18 straight in the series and owns a 69-22-7 edge overall in 98 meetings.
This rivalry goes all the way back to 1893, when Tulane beat LSU 34-0 in the first game between the schools. That was 10 years before the Wright brothers made the first airplane flight, when there were only 44 states in the United States. LSU wasn’t called the Tigers until 1896, and Tulane didn’t become the Green Wave until 1920.
The long break is exactly why the series deserves to be played more often. A matchup with 98 games behind it shouldn’t just fade away. It should be part of the regular rhythm of football in this state.
There’s also a practical side to it for LSU. Keeping those games in Louisiana means keeping the money in Louisiana, whether it’s against Tulane or other in-state programs like Louisiana Tech, ULM, Louisiana, Northwestern State, McNeese, Nicholls, and Southeastern Louisiana. The idea is simple: give the appearance fees to schools in “The Boot” instead of sending them to Akron, New Mexico, or Oregon State.
One game is a start. After 21 years without the “Battle for The Rag,” it’s overdue.
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Ex-LSU Coordinator Joe Sloan Is Suddenly Drawing Serious SEC Buzz
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The move also carries a little extra edge for LSU fans because Sloans next big stage comes against his old program on October 10. Kentucky believes it has added a coach who can connect with players and make an immediate imprint, and portal quarterback Kenny Minchey has already pointed to Sloan as one of the main reasons he landed with the Wildcats. For Sloan, though, the real test will be whether that buzz turns into production against the very team that moved on from him after last season's offensive slump. [Read more 🡒]
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For LSU, the miss is part of a broader race that is still very much in motion, even if the Tigers have already added some help in the defensive backfield. Georgias class keeps piling up blue-chip talent, and Cole becomes its lone defensive back commitment so far, a reminder that the early recruiting map can shift quickly as the cycle moves deeper. [Read more 🡒]