The 2026 McNeese Cowboys football team will represent McNeese State University as a member of the Southland Conference (SLC) during the 2026 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Cowboys will be led by twelfth-year head coach Matt Viator and will play their home games at Navarre Stadium in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
Schedule
Game summaries
No. 13 Stephen F. Austin
Statistics SFAMCN First downs 23 18 Plays–yards 68–439 65–407 Rushes–yards 39–137 33–199 Passing yards 302 208 Passing: comp–att–int 18–29–2 19–32–2 Turnovers 3 3 Time of possession 31:47 28:13 Team Category Player Statistics Stephen F. Austin Passing Gavin Rutherford 18/29, 302 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT Rushing Jaylen Jenkins 19 carries, 82 yards, TD Receiving Bugs Mortimer 2 receptions, 72 yards, TD McNeese Passing Devin Lippold 10/18, 118 yards, TD, INT Rushing Omiri Wiggins 12 carries, 126 yards, TD Receiving Curtis Deville 4 receptions, 71 yards
Texas Wesleyan (NAIA)
Statistics TWESMCN First downs 14 23 Plays–yards 63–187 66–500 Rushes–yards 30–74 37–220 Passing yards 113 280 Passing: comp–att–int 14–33–1 20–29–0 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 29:22 30:38 Team Category Player Statistics Texas Wesleyan Passing Charlie Adamoli 14/33, 113 yards, INT Rushing Maurice Griffin 8 carries, 27 yards Receiving Mahki Whitney 6 receptions, 67 yards McNeese Passing Devin Lippold 15/20, 199 yards, 4 TD Rushing Marquez Davis 9 carries, 67 yards, TD Receiving Elisha Edwards 5 receptions, 77 yards, 2 TD
No. 4 Tarleton State
Statistics TARMCN First downs 26 24 Plays–yards 70–509 76–495 Rushes–yards 22–146 31–209 Passing yards 363 286 Passing: comp–att–int 28–48–0 27–45–0 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 24:50 35:10 Team Category Player Statistics Tarleton State Passing Kaden Anderson 28/48, 363 yards Rushing Tylan Hines 17 carries, 141 yards, 2 TD Receiving Marquis Willis 10 receptions, 166 yards McNeese Passing Devin Lippold 27/45, 286 yards, 2 TD Rushing Omiri Wiggins 15 carries, 81 yards, TD Receiving Elisha Edwards 8 receptions, 111 yards
at UT Rio Grande Valley
Statistics MCNRGV First downs 18 26 Plays–yards 62–279 69–488 Rushes–yards 28–109 41–315 Passing yards 170 173 Passing: comp–att–int 14–34–3 13–28–1 Turnovers 4 1 Time of possession 26:23 33:37 Team Category Player Statistics McNeese Passing Devin Lippold 12/29, 141 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing 9 carries, 45 yards Receiving Curtis Deville Jr. 3 receptions, 71 yards, TD UT Rio Grande Valley Passing Aidan Jakobsohn 10/20, 137 yards, TD, INT Rushing TJ Dement 13 carries, 144 yards Receiving Jaydon Smith 4 receptions, 81 yards
East Texas A&M
Statistics ETAMMCN First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics East Texas A&M Passing Rushing Receiving McNeese Passing Rushing Receiving
at No. 11 (FBS) LSU
Statistics MCNLSU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics McNeese Passing Rushing Receiving LSU Passing Rushing Receiving
at Northwestern State (rivalry)
Statistics MCNNWST First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics McNeese Passing Rushing Receiving Northwestern State Passing Rushing Receiving
at Incarnate Word
Statistics MCNUIW First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics McNeese Passing Rushing Receiving Incarnate Word Passing Rushing Receiving
Nicholls
Statistics NICHMCN First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Nicholls Passing Rushing Receiving McNeese Passing Rushing Receiving
at Houston Christian
Statistics MCNHCU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics McNeese Passing Rushing Receiving Houston Christian Passing Rushing Receiving
at Southeastern Louisiana
Statistics MCNSELA First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics McNeese Passing Rushing Receiving Southeastern Louisiana Passing Rushing Receiving
Lamar (Battle of the Border)
Statistics LAMMCN First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Lamar Passing Rushing Receiving McNeese Passing Rushing Receiving
Rankings
References