LAKE CHARLES – McNeese returns home on Saturday in Navarre Stadium to face-off against a member of the FCS ranks for the first time this season when Weber State of the Big Sky Conference comes to town with kick-off scheduled for 6 p.m.
 
It's a Salute to Service game where all first responders and military personnel can purchase a discount ticket for $10 with a valid ID.
 
McNeese will enter the game 1-1 on the season and 1-0 at home. The Cowboys dropped a 34-10 decision at Louisiana-Lafayette last Saturday in Lafayette. Weber State (0-2) is playing its third straight game on the road with its previous two at an FBS opponent and coming off a 48-3 loss at Arizona.
 
BROADCAST INFORMATION:
Time: 6:00 p.m.
TV: ESPN+ (Link) – Jeff Palermo (PxP), Chaston Tavares (Analyst), Rylee Eyster (Sideline)
Radio: 92.9 The Lake and 929thelake.com (Link) – Tom Hoefer (PxP), Mark Young (Analyst)
Live Stats: StatBroadcast (Link)
Tickets (LINK)
Digital Program (LINK)
Media Hub (Link)
 
GAME OVERVIEW
• McNeese returns home to host Weber State out of the Big Sky Conference.
• The Cowboys (1-1) are coming off a 34-10 loss at Louisiana-Lafayette last week while Weber State (0-2) dropped a 48-3 decision at Arizona.
• The Cowboys upset the Wildcats last season, 28-26, in Ogden, Utah, knocking off the 25th-ranked team in the country.
• It was the first win over a ranked opponent since beating No. 16 UIW in October of 2021.
• That victory propelled the Cowboys into the national rankings for the first time since the 2021 spring season.
• Head coach Matt Viator is 21-2 at McNeese against non-conference, non-FBS opponents in the regular season and 15-1 at home.
• This marks the first of two games the Cowboys will play a team from Utah... next week McNeese travels to face Utah State.
 
McNEESE vs. WEBER STATE – THE SERIES
• Saturday's game will be the sixth meeting in the series with McNeese holding a 4-1 lead all-time.
• McNeese has won four straight in the series after Weber State won the initial contest in 1990.
• The Cowboys are 1-1 at home against the Wildcats and 3-0 on the road.
 
COWBOYS VS. THE BIG SKY CONFERENCE
• McNeese is 14-9 all-time against current members of the Big Sky Conference and 18-13 overall (past and present teams).
• Eleven of those match-ups have occurred in the playoffs with McNeese winning six.
 
NO PLACE LIKE HOME
• McNeese captured its 225th all-time win in Navarre Stadium in its season opening win over Louisiana Christian and has compiled a 225-107-5 all-time record in "The Hole" since making its debut in 1965.
• The Cowboys are 105-36 at home against non-conference opponents.
 
A WIN WOULD...
• Give head coach Matt Viator his 80th win at McNeese and 99th in his career.
• Make the Cowboys 2-1 on the season for the first time since the 2019 season.
• Give the Cowboys their 5th home win in the last 6 games dating back to last season.
 
MAULDIN AMONG TOPS IN FCS IN TE CATCHES          
• McNeese tight end Logan Mauldin is one of the top tight end pass receivers in the FCS heading into Week 3 with five catches.
• Ranked No. 2 in the Southland Conference in TE receptions (SLU's Cade Collier with 6) and is No. 1 in TE receiving yards (116).
• Currently 3rd on the team in receptions and is second in receiving yards with 116.
• No. 1 TE and 13th overall in FCS with 23.3 yards per catch.