GAME:  McNeese (2-1, 0-0) vs. Nicholls (0-5, 0-1)
RANKINGS: McNeese #4 in FCS Coaches Poll, #5 in Sports Network; Nicholls not ranked
WHEN: 6 p.m. at Cowboy Stadium (17,610)
RADIO: Gator 99.5 FM (Tom Hoefer, pxp; Johnny Suydam, analyst; Ron Hayes, sideline)
LIVE STREAMING: McNeeseSports.com
TV: None
 
LAKE CHARLES – McNeese will open its 2014 Southland Conference slate on Saturday against a team that has been known to play spoiler for the Cowboys over the years – The Nicholls Colonels.
 
Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. in Cowboy Stadium and the game will end a three-game home stand for the Cowboys.
 
McNeese, 2-1 and ranked in the top five in both FCS polls, is coming off a 61-7 win over Arkansas Tech in the last outing while Nicholls (0-5) dropped a 52-18 loss to Central Arkansas in its league opener last week despite playing a decent first half against the Bears under an interim coach that has barely had the chance to learn his players' names.
 
"It's a different situation, obviously, what Nicholls is going through," said McNeese coach Matt Viator about the issue of the Colonels' going through a coaching change after former coach Charlie Stubbs stepped down three weeks ago for health reasons and hired Steve Axman in an interim position. "I've never seen anything like that. Coach Axman does have a great reputation in the business as a guy coaching guys like Troy Aikman. I saw improvement in the Central Arkansas game, no question. It was very competitive in the first half."
 
McNeese has won the last five meetings and has a 27-11 lead in the all-time series but two defeats stand out to the Colonels, both that kept the Cowboys from winning a conference championship.
 
In 1998, McNeese needed a win over the Colonels in the season finale to notch its second-straight league title but Nicholls scored 14 points in the final 3:19 including on a 45-yard pass with eight seconds to play to beat McNeese 31-30. In 2008, an 0-4 Nicholls team stunned 12^th-ranked McNeese 38-35 which helped keep the Cowboys from winning another second-consecutive conference title.
 
"From the time I've been here, my best recollection is when they came in here and beat us in 2008," said Viator.
 
Viator knows the Cowboys, who lead the league and rank ninth in the nation in rushing offense with 261.7 yards per game, must stay focused and prepare for every opponent regardless of records.
 
"The first thing I said (on Sunday) was 'This is it. This is what you work for. You hope to be playing your best your best and everything's in order. I think we're ready to go."
 
The Cowboys have three rushers ranked in the top 10 in the league led by Kelvin Bennett who is ranked fifth with 71.0 yards per game. Daniel Sams is sixth with a 67.0 average and Derrick Milton is 10^th with a 55.7 mark.
 
McNeese is also first in the conference and fifth nationally with 44.3 points scored per game.
 
Nicholls is ranked last in the league in rushing defense having allowed 358 yards per game and is last in scoring defense by allowing 54.6 points per game.
 
GAMEDAY NOTES:
• With 64 career victories, head coach Matt Viator will move into sole possession of second place on the school's all-time career wins list with a victory on Saturday, trailing just Bobby Keasler (78).
• McNeese is 64-19 in Cowboy Stadium since 2000.
• The Cowboys are ranked No. 1 in the Southland Conference in 10 different stat categories (scoring offense 44.3; rushing offense 261.7; rushing defense 104.0; pass efficiency defense 89.1; total defense 288.7; field goal percentage 3-3, 1.000; sacks against 4; opponent 1^st downs per game 14.7; opponent 3^rd down conversion percentage 28.6; time of possession 34:04.)
• McNeese has lost two key players to injuries for the season – CB Ja'Len James and WR Kent Shelby. RB Nate Holmes will miss his second straight game and is still listed as being out indefinitely.