Top-Five Tarleton State Visits McNeese Saturday Night
Lake Charles, Louisiana - The eyes of the FCS College Football world will be set upon Lake Charles this weekend as McNeese hosts #4 Tarleton State on Saturday Night inside Navarre Stadium.
For the second time in the first three weeks of the season, McNeese will try to make the most out of hosting a big opponent.
McNeese (1-1) will host No. 4 Tarleton State on Saturday night inside Navarre Stadium. The Cowboys opened the season against No. 13 Stephen F. Austin, falling 38-27.
“It's a great opportunity, no doubt. In the big picture, we'll still have nine more games, but this is a great opportunity," said Matt Viator. "It's a top-level FCS team, and the fact that we're playing here at home in Cowboys Stadium is exciting.”
“It's exciting. This is our second opportunity in three weeks to host a ranked team, but this time it's a top-five team coming into our place. I think our guys will be ready for the challenge.”
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Coming off his Southland Offensive Player of the Week honor, the Cowboys will likely roll with Devin Lippold at Quarterback again this week. In his first collegiate start against Texas Wesleyan, Lippold completed 15 of 20 passes for 199 yards with no interceptions to go along with his touchdown passes. He will get his biggest test of the young season on Saturday night.
"I thought Devin had himself a really good game. I thought he handled himself really well," said McNeese coach Matt Viator.
The McNeese wideouts have been a big part of the success of the passing game through the first few weeks, and in particular guys like Smiley Edwards and Curtis Deville. Those two have tottalled over 250 yards and two touchdowns through the first two weeks.
“I think we're throwing it better, but we're catching it better, too. A lot of it, in the case of Smiley and Curtis, is we're winning a few of these 50-50 balls. That helps.
If McNeese wants a chance to upset the fourth-ranked Texans, it starts with stopping the run, and Matt Viator thinks whoever is able to run the ball better will have the upper hand.
“In a game like this, who runs the football better and who stops the run better usually has the upper hand. Both of us are going to try to have balance, and it certainly helps when you can run the football.”
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KNOW THE FOE: #4 Tarleton State Texans
Tarleton State comes to Lake Charles 2-0 and riding back-to-back years with wins over FBS opponents, becoming just the 16th FCS program since 2006 to accomplish that.
Over the last few years, Tarleton State has become one of the top teams in the FCS. The Texans went 12-3 last season and made it all the way to the FCS quarterfinals, and expectations are high again in 2026.
The Texans are led by running back Tylan Hines, who exploded for 250 rushing yards and 47 receiving yards in Saturday’s 20-13 win at Bowling Green. Hines leads the FCS with 434 rushing yards through two games and is averaging 217 yards per game.
Hines earned both UAC Offensive Player of the Week and Stats Perform FCS National Offensive Player of the Week honors.
Quarterback Kaden Anderson has completed nearly 69 percent of his passes for 430 yards and five touchdowns, while Marquis Willis leads Tarleton with 161 receiving yards and three touchdowns.
Defensively, linebacker Stephen Woods Jr. leads the team with 18 tackles. Defensive back Jadan Aubert had eight tackles and two forced fumbles against Bowling Green, earning UAC Defensive Player of the Week honors.
McNeese hosts #4 Tarleton State Saturday Night inside Navarre Stadium in Lake Charles. Fans headed to the game can purchase tickets HERE. For folks unable to make the game, the game will broadcast on ESPN+ or on the radio with the McNeese Sports Network on 92.9 The Lake.
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Gallery Credit: Chaston Tavares