Three years after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, the Saints and LSU Tigers could be opening their 2008 seasons amid more uncertainty.

As Tropical Storm Gustav nears the Gulf of Mexico, the football teams are monitoring the weather reports to determine if any schedules need to be altered, or any games moved out of New Orleans.

The Saints are scheduled to play two games in New Orleans over the next two weeks. The squad will close out preseason play against Miami on Thursday before hosting Tampa Bay at the Superdome in the regular-season opener on Sept. 7.

The Tigers are slated to host Appalachian State on Saturday.

New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton told the media Tuesday that the NFL team has a plan in place in case Gustav does hit the area. While Payton didn't release where the team might relocate to, media reports claim that the Saints have been in contact with city officials in San Antonio.

"What we do is really predicated on when it's supposed to arrive, and the good news with a hurricane is there's advance warning," said Payton, who was not with the Saints when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005. "So we'll have a plan. ... And having gone through this once before, we'll be thoroughly prepared."

After Hurricane Katrina damaged the Superdome, which was used to house many victims of the storm in the days after the hurricane hit New Orleans in 2005, the Saints were forced to play away from their home stadium for the next year, holding their home games in San Antonio and Baton Rouge.

After a $185 million renovation, the Superdome welcomed back the Saints in September 2006. In an emotional homecoming, New Orleans defeated the Atlanta Falcons in Monday Night Football during their first game back at the Dome. While fans in black and gold attire filled the stands, an all-star lineup -- including U2 and Green Day -- participated in pre-game festivities.

The LSU Tigers did not evacuate after Katrina, but the school moved up the start time to 11 a.m. ET for Saturday's home game.

After Hurricane Katrina struck, the Tigers remained at LSU. According to team officials, the players and coaches served as volunteers on campus, which was being used as shelter and recovery centers. The team was forced to postpone its season opener against North Texas and moved a scheduled home game to Tempe, Ariz.