McNeese Football Kicks Off 2024 Season Against Tarleton State on National TV

The McNeese Cowboys are all set to begin their 81st football season with a big game against the No. 21-ranked Tarleton State Texans. The game will take place in Stephenville, Texas, at Memorial Stadium, which seats 24,000 fans. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 24, 2024, and fans can watch it live on ESPN2 or listen on KHLA 92.1 FM.

This will be the fourth meeting between McNeese and Tarleton State, with McNeese leading the series 2-1. However, in their last encounter on September 2, 2023, Tarleton State defeated McNeese 52-34. The Cowboys will be looking for redemption this time around.

ABOUT THE COWBOYS

McNeese is bringing a fresh lineup to this season opener, with 59 new players, including 21 transfers from FBS schools and six from FCS programs. One of the most exciting new additions is quarterback Clifton McDowell, who led the Montana Grizzlies to the FCS Championship game last season. Fans are eager to see what he can do with the Cowboys.

On the defensive side, junior linebacker Micah Davey is back after an incredible 2023 season where he led the nation with 153 tackles. Davey has been named to the preseason watch list for the 2024 Buck Buchanan Award, which goes to the best defensive player in Division I FCS football. He’s also been named a preseason first-team All-American by multiple outlets.

McNeese has a strong history in season openers, with an overall record of 49-29-2. Since joining the Southland Conference in 1972, they’ve gone 36-16 in these games. Since the year 2000, the Cowboys are 14-10 in their first games of the season, winning 14 out of 18 against non-FBS teams.

This game is one of only seven Division I college football games being played during "Week 0," and it will be the first game played on American soil this season. It’s a big opportunity for McNeese to showcase their new talent and start the season on a high note in front of a national audience.

McNeese fans can expect to see a strong lineup on both sides of the ball. The Cowboys’ offense will feature a mix of experienced and new players, including a stable of running backs led by Joshon Barbie and D’Angelo Durham. The defense will rely heavily on Micah Davey, who’s joined by new additions like ULM transfer Tristan Driggers.

ABOUT THE TEXANS

Tarleton State Football is ready for a strong season, picked to finish second in the United Athletic Conference. The Texans have a powerful offense that averaged 33.3 points per game last season and is bringing back 10 starters. Leading the way is running back Kayvon Britten, who rushed for 1,150 yards and 16 touchdowns last year. He’s joined by Derrel Kelley, who had over 1,000 yards in 2022 and 541 yards as a backup last season.

The offensive line is solid with all five starters returning, along with top receiver Darius Cooper, who had 622 yards and five touchdowns in just seven games. Quarterback Victor Gabalis is also back after throwing for 2,492 yards and 18 touchdowns last season. With this lineup, Tarleton State has the talent to be a top contender this year.

• Where: Stephenville, Texas • Memorial Stadium (24,000)
• When: Saturday, August 24, 2024
• Time: 2:30 p.m.
• TV: ESPN2 (Lowell Galindo, pbp; Fozzy Whitaker, analyst)
• Radio: KHLA 92.1 FM (Tom Hoefer, pbp)
• Series: 4th Meeting (McNeese leads 2-1)
• Last Meeting: Tarleton State 52, McNeese 34 (Sept. 2, 2023 in Lake Charles)