McNeese Moves Up Season Opener To Play On National TV

If you're patiently waiting for the start of the 2024 football season, it may come a little earlier than you originally anticipated. On Wednesday, it was announced that the McNeese Season Opener has been moved up a week.

Last year, the Cowboys were featured on the ESPN family of networks during the football season whenever McNeese took on Florida in Gainesville. It looks like football will get that opportunity once more.

Per a release from the Athletic Department, McNeese’s football game at Tarleton State has been moved up to August 24 to help kick off the 2024 college football season in front of a nationally televised audience on the ESPN network. Kick-off time and network have yet to be determined.

“Having the ability to help kick off the 2024 college football season and play on linear ESPN is a fantastic opportunity for us. Enhancing our brand as an athletic department and as a university has been one of my major objectives, and this move helps us do just that. I couldn’t be more excited!” - McNeese Athletic Director Heath Schroyer

The matchup was originally scheduled for September 14 in Stephenville, that date will now become one of two open dates for the Cowboys this season with the other occurring on October 5.

This year will be the fourth meeting in the series between the Cowboys and Texans with McNeese holding down a 2-1 lead. Tarleton defeated the Cowboys 52-34 in the season-opener last year in Lake Charles.

McNeese won the initial game, 33-3, back in 2016 then defeated the Texans 40-37 in a thrilling double-overtime contest in Stephenville to kick off the 2021 spring football season.