What: McNeese (4-0, 3-0 SLC) vs. Southeastern Louisiana (3-1, 2-0 SLC)
When: Saturday, Oct. 10, 2015
Time: 6:07 p.m. kickoff
Where: Cowboy Stadium (17,610), Lake Charles
Rankings (Coaches/STATS: McNeese (13/22); Southeastern Louisiana (17/20)
TV: CST (Suddenlink 57); ESPN3 (Blacked out in Lake Charles area)
Radio: 92.9 FM The Lake; 960 AM The Gator in Lafayette
 
LAKE CHARLES – Saturday's Southland Conference game between 13^th-ranked McNeese and 17^th-ranked Southeastern Louisiana will have a championship feel despite it being just the fifth game of the season for both teams.
 
That's because the winner will keep its place atop the league standings while gaining some momentum heading into the second half of the season as the Cowboys (4-0, 3-0 SLC) will be looking for their first 5-0 start to the season since the undefeated 2007 year.
 
Kickoff is set for 6:07 p.m. in Cowboy Stadium. It'll be broadcast live on CST (Cox Sports Television) and also on the internet on ESPN3 and the WatchESPN app outside a CST viewing area.
 
"This is a big game for us," said head coach Matt Viator who will enter the contest with 72 career wins and needing one more to tie with Louisiana Tech's Maxie Lambright for fourth on the SLC all-time winningest coach record list. "It's a big game early in the conference season.
 
"Without a doubt, Southeastern has by far been the best team in the league the last two years."
 
The Lions (3-1, 2-0 SLC) have won back-to-back conference championships and will be seeking to beat the Cowboys for the fourth straight time on Saturday. The last time McNeese lost four straight to a conference team came in the late 1980s with it dropped four in a row to North Texas.
 
"We're ready to play," said free safety Wallace Scott who has scored one of two defensive touchdowns for the Cowboys this season. "I've been excited about this game ever since the end of last week's at Nicholls."
 
McNeese will carry the league's top-rated defense in scoring (6.8 ppg), rushing (76.2 ypg), passing (170.2 ypg), and total (246.5 ypg) while the Lions possess the conference's top rushing offense (252.2) while ranking behind the Cowboys in scoring defense (24.8), and rushing defense (102.5).
 
The Cowboys have held three of their four opponents to under 100 yards rushing and 250 total offensive yards on the season, and on offense, for the first time since 1984, have rushed for 200 yards or more in four straight games to start the season.
 
Quarterback Daniel Sams leads the conference in total offense with 251.2 yards per game. He's averaging a team-high 86.5 yards per game rushing and 164.8 yards passing.
 
Wide receiver Kent Shelby is the team leader with 13 receptions for 228 yards and three touchdowns followed by Tavarious Battiste with 11 catches for 177 yards and a score.
 
Defensively, the Cowboys have racked up 15 sacks and 42.5 tackles for a loss on the year and has forced opponents into 42 negative plays.
 
Dominique Hill leads the squad with 22 tackles and seven tackles for a loss. Ashari Goins, Bo Brown, and Jammerio Gross are tied for the team lead with three sacks.
 
Newcomer D'Shaie Landor, a transfer quarterback from ULL, has completed 15 of 31 passes for 303 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions for the Lions. Xavier Roberson tops the team in rushing with 212 yards and two scores.
 
Saturday's game will be the 41^st meeting between the two teams with McNeese holding a 22-18 lead in the series.