American college football season
The 2021 McNeese State Cowboys football team represented McNeese State University as a members of the Southland Conference during the 2021 NCAA Division I FCS football season . The Cowboys were led by first-year head coach Frank Wilson . They played their home games at Cowboy Stadium .
Previous season
The Cowboys finished the 2020 season with a 3–4 record, 2-4 in Southland play, during the shortened season due to the COVID-19 pandemic . As McNeese State decided to play during the scheduled FCS season in the spring, their schedule only consisted of FCS teams, including all teams who chose to play in the spring from the Southland, and Tarleton State .
Preseason
Preseason poll
The Southland Conference released their preseason poll in July 2021. The Cowboys were picked to finish fourth in the conference.[1] In addition, six Cowboys were chosen to the Preseason All-Southland Team.[2]
Predicted finish
Team
Votes (1st place)
1
Southeastern Louisiana
48 (8)
2
Nicholls
43 (4)
3
Incarnate Word
32
4
McNeese State
26
5
Northwestern State
21
6
Houston Baptist
10
Preseason All–Southland Teams
Offense
2nd Team
Josh Matthews – Wide Receiver, SR
Defense
1st Team
Isaiah Chambers – Defensive Lineman, SR
Mason Kinsey – Defensive Lineman, RS-JR
Andre Sam – Defensive Back, SR
2nd Team
Chris Joyce – Defensive Back, JR
Mason Pierce – Punt Returner, RS-SO
Personnel
Schedule
Date Time Opponent Site TV Result Attendance September 4 12:00 p.m. West Florida * CST /ESPN+ L 36–428,665
September 11 7:00 p.m. at LSU * SECN+ /ESPN+L 7–3494,220
September 18 6:00 p.m. at Southern * W 31–2415,003
September 25 12:00 p.m. at Incarnate Word ESPN+ L 0–311,633
October 2 12:00 p.m. No. 14 Southeastern Louisiana Cowboy Stadium Lake Charles, LA CST/ESPN+ L 35–386,044
October 16 3:00 p.m. at Northwestern State CST/ESPN+ W 35–177,413
October 23 12:00 p.m. No. 16 Incarnate Word Cowboy Stadium Lake Charles, LA ESPN+ W 28–207,498
October 30 6:00 p.m. at No. 8 Southeastern Louisiana ESPN+ L 20–234,185
November 6 12:00 p.m. Nicholls Cowboy Stadium Lake Charles, LA CST/ESPN+ L 14–24 8,898
November 13 2:00 p.m. at Houston Baptist ESPN+ W 44–32,325
November 20 12:00 p.m. Northwestern State Cowboy Stadium Lake Charles, LA (Rivalry ) ESPN+ L 20–248,412
*Non-conference game HomecomingRankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time
[3] [4]
Game summaries
West Florida
West Florida at McNeese State
1
2 Total
Argonauts
0
Cowboys
0
Statistics
West Florida
McNeese State
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
West Florida
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
McNeese State
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
at LSU
McNeese State at Louisiana State
1
2 Total
Cowboys
0
Tigers
0
Statistics
McNeese State
LSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
McNeese State
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
LSU
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
at Southern
McNeese State at Southern
1
2 3 4 Total
• Cowboys
7
3 10 11
31
Jaguars
14
7 0 3
24
Statistics
McNeese State
Southern
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
McNeese State
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Southern
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
at Incarnate Word
McNeese State at Incarnate Word
1
2 Total
Cowboys
0
Cardinals
0
Statistics
McNeese State
Incarnate Word
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
McNeese State
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Incarnate Word
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
No. 14 Southeastern Louisiana
Southeastern Louisiana at McNeese State
1
2 Total
No. 14 Lions
0
Cowboys
0
Statistics
Southeastern Louisiana
McNeese State
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Southeastern Louisiana
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
McNeese State
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
at Northwestern State
McNeese State at Northwestern State
1
2 Total
Cowboys
0
Demons
0
Statistics
McNeese State
Northwestern State
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
McNeese State
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Northwestern State
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
No. 16 Incarnate Word
Incarnate Word at McNeese State
1
2 Total
Cardinals
0
Cowboys
0
Statistics
Incarnate Word
McNeese State
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Incarnate Word
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
McNeese State
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
at No. 8 Southeastern Louisiana
McNeese State at Southeastern Louisiana
1
2 Total
Cowboys
0
No. 8 Lions
0
Date: October 30, 2021Location: Strawberry Stadium Hammond, LA Game start: 6:00 p.m. CDT Elapsed time: Game attendance: Game weather: • Weather: TBD • Wind: TBDReferee: TV announcers (ESPN+ ):
Statistics
McNeese State
Southeastern Louisiana
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
McNeese State
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Southeastern Louisiana
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Nicholls
Nicholls at McNeese State
1
2 Total
Colonels
0
Cowboys
0
Statistics
Nicholls
McNeese State
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Nicholls
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
McNeese State
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
at Houston Baptist
McNeese State at Houston Baptist
1
2 Total
Cowboys
0
Huskies
0
Date: November 13, 2021Location: Husky Stadium Houston, TX Game start: 2:00 p.m. CST Elapsed time: Game attendance: Game weather: • Weather: TBD • Wind: TBDReferee: TV announcers (ESPN+ ):
Statistics
McNeese State
Houston Baptist
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
McNeese State
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Houston Baptist
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Northwestern State
Northwestern State at McNeese State
1
2 Total
Demons
0
Cowboys
0
Statistics
Northwestern State
McNeese State
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Northwestern State
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
McNeese State
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
References
Venues Bowls & rivalries People Seasons