First season 1940 Field surface Artificial turf Arena/Stadium Cowboy Stadium Conference Southland Conference Stadium surface Artificial turf | Seating capacity 17,410 NCAA division Division I FCS Division Division I (NCAA) Athletic director Bruce Hemphill League Division I (NCAA) | |
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Head coach Lance Guidry
1st year, 6–5 (.545) Location Lake Charles, Louisiana Rivals Lamar Cardinals football, Central Arkansas Bears football, Northwestern State Demons football Profiles |
The McNeese State Cowboys football program is the intercollegiate American football team for McNeese State University located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The team competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and are members of the Southland Conference. McNeese State's first football team was fielded in 1940. The team plays its home games at the 17,410 seat Cowboy Stadium in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The Cowboys are coached by Lance Guidry.
Contents
- History
- Southland Conference champions
- Bowl history
- Central Arkansas
- Lamar Cardinals
- LouisianaLafayette Ragin Cajuns
- Notable former players
- References
History

On August 31, 2013, McNeese State opened their season at South Florida by defeating the Bulls 53-21. It was the largest point total by a Football Championship Subdivision team over a Football Bowl Subdivision team in a victory since the NCAA split Division I football into two divisions in 1978. The 32 point difference was also the greatest margin of victory by a FCS team over a FBS team.
Southland Conference champions
Bowl history
The Cowboys have participated in six bowl games, the first three being College Division bowl games and the last three being against Division I-AA teams. They also participated in the Cajun Bowl against the Southern Arkansas Muleriders in 1947, which ended in a scoreless tie.
Central Arkansas
The two teams have met 9 times on the football field with McNeese State leading the series tied 5–4–0. Due to conference scheduling requirements, the most recent game was played in 2015.
Lamar Cardinals
The two teams have met 34 times on the football field, with McNeese State currently holding a 24-9-1 agreement with the two universities and Verizon Wireless.
Louisiana–Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns
The Cajun Crown was the name of the rivalry trophy between USL and McNeese State.
Notable former players
Notable alumni include: