| Year: | 1979 |
| Team: | McNeese State Cowboys |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Southland Conference |
| Short Conf: | Southland |
| Record: | 11–1 |
| Conf Record: | 5–0 |
| Head Coach: | Ernie Duplechin |
| Hc Year: | 1st |
| Def Coach: | Hubert Boales |
| Dc Year: | 1st |
| Stadium: | Cowboy Stadium |
| Champion: | Southland champion |
| Bowl: | Independence Bowl |
| Bowl Result: | L 7–31 vs. Syracuse |
The 1979 McNeese State Cowboys football team represented McNeese State University as a member of the Southland Conference during the 1979 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by first-year head coach Ernie Duplechin, the Cowboys compiled an overall record of 11–1 with a mark of 5–0 in conference play, winning the Southland title. McNeese State was invited to the Independence Bowl, where they lost to Syracuse.