McNeese (1-2, 0-1 SLC) at UTRGV (1-2, 0-1 SLC)
Saturday, September 19, 2026 • 7 p.m.
Robert & Janet Vackar Stadium • Edinburg, Texas
 
Broadcast Information:
TV: ESPN+ (LINK) - Mark May (PxP), Aaron Saenz (Color Analyst), Jaeda Rael (Sideline Reporter)
Radio: 92.9 The Lake and 929thelake.com (Link) – Tom Hoefer (PxP)
Live Stats: (Link)
Media Central: (Link)
 
EDINBURG, Texas - McNeese returns to Southland Conference play this Saturday when it hits the road
for the first time this season for a visit to UTRGV.
   
Kickoff is at 7 p.m. at UTRGV's Robert & Janet Vackar Stadium. This will be McNeese's first visit to UTRGV in just the second matchup all-time against the Vaqueros. UTRGV defeated McNeese 28-13 last November in Lake Charles.
   
The game has been announced as a sellout, marking the ninth-consecutive sellout for UTRGV dating back to last season. UTRGV, in its second season of football competition, is 8-0 all-time at home and 1-0 this season.
 
McNeese (1-2) is coming off a 27-24 loss to 4th-ranked Tarleton State last Saturday. The Texans connected on a 24-yard field goal as time expired to escape with the win. But despite the loss, head coach Matt Viator is encouraged with how the Cowboys played.
 
"All the things you look for, first downs, total yards, first downs, penalties, punts, third-down conversions, fourth-down conversions, turnovers, they're all identical (with Tarleton)," said Viator. "There are some things I liked that we did."
 
McNeese led 24-21 heading into the fourth quarter and after the Texans tied the game with a 24-yard field goal early in the fourth, McNeese, on the ensuing possession, drove to the Tarleton 36 before a loss of yards on a play and a penalty ending up forcing the Cowboys to put the ball away.
 
The Cowboys got the ball back with just over seven minutes remaining, starting at their own 21 and drove to midfield, but once again the drive stalled and a punt was forced. Tarleton managed to chew up the final 3:48 by driving down to set up the game-winning field goal.
 
UTRGV (1-2) dropped a 31-28 conference game at Nicholls last week. The Vaqueros trailed 17-14 at the half then fell behind 31-14 before scoring 14 points in the fourth quarter to close the gap. UTRGV finished with 327 total yards, 264 passing and 63 rushing, using two quarterbacks in the game, starter Garrett Rangel (12-28, 127, TD, 2 int) and Aidan Jakobsohn (7-17, 132, 2 TD). The Colonels recorded five quarterback sacks on the Vaqueros.
 
McNeese and UTRGV will enter the game each ranked in the top three in the league in total offense, UTRGV at No. 2 with 474.7 yards per game while the Cowboys are third with a 467.3 average. McNeese is second in the league in rushing (209.3) and third in passing (258.0).
 
Cowboys' quarterback Devin Lippold leads the Southland Conference and is ranked ninth in the FCS with seven passing touchdowns. He's averaging 201.0 yards passing per game, third in the league, and 239.7 total yards of offense, also third. His 603 total passing yards are ranked second in the league.
 
In the running game, Omiri Wiggins leads the team and is ranked third in the conference with 72.3 yards per game while Smiley Edwards tops the team in receiving yards with 240 yards and Curtis Deville with 213.
 
Defensively, the Cowboys are second in the league in scoring by allowing 19.7 points a game and second with eight sacks led by Royce Maloles with two.
 
The Matchup
    McNeese and UTRGV will be playing for just the second-time ever and the first in Edinburg. The teams debuted the series last season in Lake Charles with the Vaqueros winning 28-13.
    The Vaqueros are coached by Travis Bush who has spent time as an assistant coach at Texas State and UTSA while members of the Southland Conference.
    UTRGV has yet to lose a game at home in its two seasons of play, compiling an 8-0 record (1-0 this season).
 
Quick hits from Saturday's Game against Tarleton State
• With 495 yards of total offense on Saturday against Tarleton, it marked the third straight game for the Cowboys to record 400+ yards, marking the first time since 2017 for McNeese to start the season with three straight 400+ total offensive yard games... the record is four straight games to start a season (2013 and 2015).
• The Cowboys recorded 13 'Big Plays', plays of 10 yards or more, in the game - 7 passing and 6 rushing.
• Of those 13 big plays, seven went for 20 yards or more with two going for 40+ yards and one 30+.
• The 97-yard scoring drive in the first possession was the second-longest scoring drive in school history and first 90+ yard drive since a 95-yard drive against UTRGV last season... the school record is a 99-yard scoring drive, that coming against Eastern Illinois on Sept. 23, 2023.
• McNeese's receivers combined for 172 yards gained after the catch.
• QB Devin Lippold recorded career-highs with 286 yards passing, 27 completions, and 45 pass attempts.
• His 27 completions are the 5th-most thrown in a game in school history while the 45 attempts are the 6th-most.
• For the second straight game, Lippold did not throw an interception and has now attempted 82 consecutive passes without a pick.
• WR Smiley Edwards pulled in a career-high 8 catches for 111 yards, also a career-best... his 8 catches rank as the 4th-most in a game in school history (13 is the record; five with 10 catches; five with 8 catches... he's the first Cowboy this season to record 100 yards or more receiving.
• WR Curtis Deville recorded career-highs with 5 catches, 87 receiving yards, and two touchdowns.
• Deville's two TD grabs marks the second straight game a Cowboy has caught multiple TD passes (Edwards with two against Texas Wesleyan).
• CB Mason Edwards tied a career-high with three pass break-ups, the most by a Cowboy this season and second-most in the FCS.
• CB Safir Stills-Bey recorded a career-high with 5 total tackles, 2.0 tackles for a loss, and a sack.
 
Second Half Team
• Through the first three games, McNeese is outscoring its opponents by a 65-27 score, including 28-6 in the fourth quarter.
• McNeese has outgained its opponents in second half offensive yards by a total of 918-548 (291-203 vs. SFA, 318-89 vs. Texas Wesleyan, 309-256 vs. Tarleton State).
• The two fourth quarter field goals scored by Tarleton State are the only fourth quarter points allowed by McNeese this season.
• McNeese has possessed the ball for 17 second half drives this season, scoring in 10 of those - 9 touchdowns and one field goal.
• The Cowboys were 3-6 in second half drives with 3 TDs against SFA, 4-5 with 4 TDs vs. Texas Wesleyan, and 3-6 vs. Tarleton State with 2 TDs and a field goal.
 
Third Down Success
• McNeese has converted on 50% of its third downs this season (19 for 38), ranking 1st in the Southland Conference and 12th in the FCS.
• The Cowboys converted 5 of 12 vs. SFA, 5 of 8 vs. Texas Wesleyan, and 9 of 18 against Tarleton State.
• Breakdown... 3rd and short (1-4): 3-8; (5-8): 11-19; (9+): 5-11.
 
OL Grading High vs. Tarleton State
• Three Cowboys' offensive linemen graded out in the top 10 in the FCS in last Saturday's game against Tarleton State, according to PFN (Pro Football Network).
• Aaron Session was the top-ranked LT in the FCS with a 90.5 grade; Eric Aschenbeck was the No. 2 ranked RT in the FCS with a 90.2 grade; and RG Sam Liu was 6th at his position with a 87.4 grade.
 
Big Plays
• McNeese has recorded a total of 42 'Big Plays' of 10 yards or longer through the first three games of the season, 18 passing and 24 rushing.
• Of the 42 plays, 21 have gone for 20 yards or more with six at 40 or more yards.
 
Schedule Toughest in FCS
• McNeese is currently tied with the toughest schedule in the FCS with West Florida, Utah Tech, Furman, Georgetown, and Butler.
• The Cowboys' previously played D1 opponents are a combined 6-0 on the season and future opponents are 12-13.
• Overall, McNeese's D1 opponents are 18-13 and all opponents, 19-15 on the season.
 
Player Notes
• CB Mason Edwards is ranked 2nd in the FCS with three pass break-ups.
• QB Devin Lippold is 1st in the SLC and 9th in the FCS with seven passing TDs.
• Lippold is 1st in SLC and 11th in FCS with 48 points responsible for.
• Lippold is 2nd in SLC with 17.3 completions per game.
• Lippold has attempted 82 consecutive passes without throwing an interception.
• WRs Curtis Deville Jr. and Smiley Edwards are 1st in SLC and 7th in FCS with 3 receiving TDs each.
• RB Omiri Wiggins is 2nd in SLC and 11th in FCS with 6.8 yards per carry.
• Wiggins, Deville and Edwards are tied for 1st in SLC with 3 TDs scored.
• S Sentario Willis is 1st in SLC and 6th in FCS with 2 pass interceptions.
 
Team Notes
• Thrown for 200 yards or more in three straight games for the first time since the 2024 season.
• Against Tarleton State, McNeese did not allow a sack for the first time in a game since Nov. 1 last season vs. Northwestern State.
• Scored 8 out of the 9 times in the Red Zone (7 TDs, 1 FG).
• Holding opponents to 39% on third downs.
• Ranked 2nd in the FCS in punt coverage with a return average of -2.0 yards per return.
• 11th in the FCS in total offense with 467.3 ypg.
• 17th in FCS in rushing with 209.3 ypg.
• 4th most sacks in the FCS with 8 on the season.
 
Back Attack
• McNeese's running back production has put up good numbers through the first three weeks, averaging 209.3 yards per game to rank 2nd in the Southland Conference and 17th in the FCS.
• Omiri Wiggins leads the team with 217 total yards (No. 2 in SLC, 28th in FCS) while his 72.3 ypg average is 3rd in the league and 31st in the nation.
• QB Devin Lippold is second with 116 yards which ranks him 3rd among QBs in the Southland and 27th in the FCS.
• The Cowboys' 6.2 rushing yards per carry on the season leads the SLC and is ranked 9th in the FCS.