| Year: | 2013 |
| Team: | McNeese State Cowboys |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Southland Conference |
| Short Conf: | Southland |
| Tsnrank: | 11 |
| Fcscoachrank: | 9 |
| Record: | 10–3 |
| Conf Record: | 6–1 |
| Head Coach: | Matt Viator |
| Hc Year: | 8th |
| Off Coach: | Tim Leger |
| Oc Year: | 7th |
| Def Coach: | Lance Guidry |
| Dc Year: | 1st |
| Stadium: | Cowboy Stadium |
| Bowl: | NCAA Division I Second Round |
| Bowl Result: | L 10–31 vs. Jacksonville State |
The 2013 McNeese State Cowboys football team represented McNeese State University as a member of the Southland Conference during the 2013 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by eighth-year head coach Matt Viator, the Cowboys compiled an overall record of 10–3 with a mark of 6–1 in conference play, placing second in the Southland. McNeese State received an at-large bid to NCAA Division I Football Championship playoffs, where, after a first-round bye, the Cowboys lost in the second round to Jacksonville State. The team played home games at Cowboy Stadium in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
See also: South Florida Bulls football and 2013 South Florida Bulls football team. Sources:
McNeese State received $400,000 to play the upper division (FBS) USF Bulls to open the 2013 season for both programs.[3] The Bulls prior record as an FBS team playing against FCS teams was 23–0; USF was a 20.5 point favorite before the game.[3] [4] The Cowboys spoiled Willie Taggart's debut as the Bulls' head coach, winning 53–21. The 32-point margin was the largest margin of victory by any FCS team over an FBS team since Division I was split into FBS and FCS in 1978.[4]
----See also: Arkansas–Pine Bluff Golden Lions football and 2013 Arkansas–Pine Bluff Golden Lions football team.
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----See also: Weber State Wildcats football and 2013 Weber State Wildcats football team.
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----See also: Northern Iowa Panthers football and 2013 Northern Iowa Panthers football team.
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----See also: 2012 Central Arkansas Bears football team.
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----See also: Sam Houston State Bearkats football and 2013 Sam Houston State Bearkats football team.
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----See also: Nicholls State Colonels football and 2013 Nicholls State Colonels football team.
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----See also: Southeastern Louisiana Lions football and 2013 Southeastern Louisiana Lions football team.
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----See also: Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks football and 2013 Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks football team.
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----See also: Northwestern State Demons football and 2013 Northwestern State Demons football team.
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----See also: Lamar Cardinals football and 2013 Lamar Cardinals football team.
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----All McNeese State games were broadcast on Gator 99.5 FM. KVHP 30.2 is the local affiliate for SLC TV and aired McNeese State games on SLC TV.