McNeese Gets First Road Test of 2026 as They Face UTRGV
Edinburg, Texas - For McNeese, the season may be just three games old, but Saturday night feels like an important game in the story of the 2026 Cowboys.
The old saying from coaches is that they don't claim a moral victory in defeat; there were some very encouraging things to take from last week's loss inside Navarre Stadium for McNeese as #4 Tarleton State took down the Cowboys on a last-second Field Goal to remain unbeaten.
Now, McNeese has to put that game behind them and get ready for a UTRGV team that has never lost at home. The Vaqueros are only in their second season of football and are 8-0 at home in program history.
The Cowboys know they cannot spend much time thinking about what happened against Tarleton State. If McNeese wants to make a run in the Southland Conference, the focus has to quickly turn to the Vaqueros.
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McNeese Set For UTRGV Matchup, Sticking with Devin Lippold at QB
Both teams enter the game with a 1-2 record, with both also sitting at the bottom of the Southland standings at 0-1, after McNeese lost to SFA to open the season and UTRGV fell to Nicholls last week 31-28.
McNeese will once again turn to quarterback Devin Lippold, who will make his third straight start. Lippold took over after starter Jake Strong was injured.
Lippold has played well since taking over. He has thrown seven touchdown passes, which is tied for the Southland Conference lead. He has also thrown 603 yards through the air and added another 116 yards rushing. Most importantly, Lippold has taken care of the ball. He has not thrown an interception since the opening game.
Cowboys Set To Face UTRGV Saturday in Edinburg, TX
UT Rio Grande Valley is just in its second season of football in Edinburg, but the first season was one for the history books. In 2025, there weren't any real expectations, but they set records for programs started since 1978 with nine wins and six FCS wins.
UTRGV was picked to finish fourth in the preseason SLC Coaches Poll, coming in behind only the same three teams that represented the conference in the 2025 FCS playoffs.
UTRGV is leaning on an experienced defense in 2026. Most of last year’s top-15 FCS defense returns, including linebackers Jaiden Haygood and Spencer Rich, and a strong defensive line.
The Cowboys will play their first road game of the season when they travel to Edinburg, Texas, to take on UTRGV. McNeese will try to do something no team has done before: hand UTRGV its first home loss. The game is set for 7 p.m. inside Vackar Stadium, where the Vaqueros have announced a sellout crowd.
The game can be seen on ESPN+, or you can listen live on the McNeese Sports Network on 92.9 The Lake.
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Gallery Credit: Chaston Tavares