LAKE CHARLES – McNeese senior running back Tre'Vonte Citizen and senior safety Javon Davis will join head coach Matt Viator at the 2026 Southland Conference Football Opening Drive presented by Big Game USA on Tuesday, July 21, at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston.
 
The event will once again be held in conjunction with the annual Texas High School Coaches Association Coaching School and Convention.
 
The event, which will broadcast live on ESPN+, will begin at 9 a.m. with remarks from Southland Commissioner Chris Grant.
 
All 10 Southland Conference programs will be represented at the Opening Drive, with head coaches and student-athletes participating in programming that includes panel discussions, press conferences, and media availability.
 
Southland Football Opening Drive Schedule (ESPN+)
9 am - Opening comments from Commissioner Chris Grant
9:45 am - Southeastern (head coach Frank Scelfo, players QB Kyle Lowe, DL Peyton Anderson)
10:15 am - UTRGV (head coach Travis Bush, players OL Nick Hughes, LB Jaiden Haygood)
10:45 am - Nicholls (head coach Tommy Rybacki, players QB Ean Rodrigue, DL Alex Villavaso)
11:15 am - Northwestern State (head coach Blaine McCorkle, players RB Myion Hicks, LB Danny Sears)
11:45 am - East Texas A&M (head coach Clint Dolezel, players RB EJ Oakmon, DB Orion Kupu)
12:45 pm - UIW (head coach Clint Killough, players WR Jameson Garcia, DL Terrell Elliott)
1:15 pm - Stephen F. Austin (head coach Colby Carthel, players OL Erik Gray, WR/RET Bugs Mortimer)
1:45 pm - McNeese (head coach Matt Viator, players RB Tre'Vonte Citizen, S Javon Davis)
2:15 pm - Lamar (head coach Pete Rossomando, players OL John Hester, DB Mar Mar Evans)
2:45 pm - HCU (head coach Jason Bachtel, players WR Keith Wheeler, LB Trent Zappe)