McNeese Football Picked 6th in 2025 SLC Preseason Poll

San Antonio, Texas (KNGT-FM) - On Monday, the Southland Conference hosted their version of "Media Day" with the "Opening Drive" in San Antonio, Texas. Before the event, the Southland released their 2025 Preseason Football Poll, and it doesn't appear that the rest of the conference coaches are buying into the Matt Viator hype train, at least to start.

Last year, McNeese was also selected to finish 6th in the Southland Race. During the 2024 season, the Cowboys had a 6-win improvement and decided to move on from Gary Goff. Athletic Director Heath Schroyer worked quickly and brought back a fan-favorite in former Head Coach Matt Viator.

Viator makes his triumphant return to McNeese after spending three seasons assisting the staff at Louisiana-Lafayette, and before then, as the head coach at ULM. But now, Viator is back where he belongs in Lake Charles.

During Viator's time at McNeese, the Cowboys had three seasons with 10 or more wins and never had a losing record. He led the team to undefeated regular seasons twice, in 2007 and 2015. McNeese also beat three FBS teams during his time, including a huge 53-21 win against South Florida. That victory is still the largest margin of victory by an FCS team over a BCS opponent.

Even with the return of Viator and the hype that surrounds the upcoming Football Season in Lake Charles, the fellow coaches of the SLC don't buy into the hype just yet... Now, to be completely fair, preseason polls mean nothing. The only things that Preseason polls and rankings accomplish are fans bantering back and forth and for the teams to use them as motivation.

The McNeese Cowboys certainly can use this as motivation, even though Matt Viator disses that... "No," responded Viator when asked if the Cowboys will use the Preseason poll as extra motivation heading into the season. "Preseason polls are based off of last year. I don't have a clue about last year. The rosters change daily, so I don't know how you predict where teams will be."

2025 SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE PRESEASON POLL

1. Incarnate Word - 15/158
2. Stephen F Austin - 3/137
3. Southeastern Louisiana - 1/136
4. Lamar - 1/112
5. Nicholls - 91
6. McNeese - 85
T-7. Houston Christian - 59
T-7. East Texas A&M - 59
9. Northwestern State - 39
10. UTRGV - 24