| Year: | 2019 |
| Team: | McNeese State Cowboys |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Southland Conference |
| Short Conf: | Southland |
| Record: | 7–5 |
| Conf Record: | 5–4 |
| Head Coach: | Sterlin Gilbert |
| Hc Year: | 1st |
| Off Coach: | Matt Mattox |
| Oc Year: | 1st |
| Def Coach: | Jim Gush |
| Dc Year: | 1st |
| Stadium: | Cowboy Stadium |
The 2019 McNeese State Cowboys football team represented McNeese State University as a member of the Southland Conference during the 2019 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by Sterlin Gilbert in his first and only season as head coach, the Cowboys compiled an overall record of 7–5 with a mark of 5–4 in conference play, placing fifth in the Southland. McNeese State played home games at Cowboy Stadium in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
On November 20, 2018, head coach Lance Guidry was fired.[1] He finished at McNeese State with a three-year record of 21–12. On December 5, the school hired South Florida offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert as head coach.[2]
The Southland Conference released their preseason poll on July 18, 2019. The Cowboys were picked to finish in sixth place.[3]
| 1 | Nicholls | 200 (20) | |
| 2 | Central Arkansas | 154 | |
| 3 | Incarnate Word | 150 (1) | |
| 4 | Sam Houston State | 146 | |
| 5 | Lamar | 123 | |
| 6 | McNeese State | 114 | |
| 7 | Abilene Christian | 112 (1) | |
| 8 | Southeastern Louisiana | 71 | |
| 9 | Stephen F. Austin | 63 | |
| 10 | Northwestern State | 56 | |
| 11 | Houston Baptist | 21 |
The Cowboys placed three players on the preseason all–Southland teams.[4]
Offense
1st team
Grant Burguillos – OL
Defense
1st team
Chris Livings – DL
Colby Burton – DB
See also: 2019 Southern Jaguars football team.
| Statistics | Southern | McNeese State |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | 29 | 18 |
| Total yards | 342 | 303 |
| Rushing yards | 103 | 154 |
| Passing yards | 239 | 149 |
| Turnovers | 5 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 26:35 | 33:25 |
See also: 2019 Oklahoma State Cowboys football team.
| Statistics | McNeese State | Oklahoma State |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | 13 | 25 |
| Total yards | 318 | 580 |
| Rushing yards | 161 | 167 |
| Passing yards | 157 | 413 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 31:45 | 28:15 |
See also: 2019 Alcorn State Braves football team.
| Statistics | Alcorn State | McNeese State |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | 22 | 14 |
| Total yards | 318 | 324 |
| Rushing yards | 154 | 133 |
| Passing yards | 164 | 191 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 32:05 | 27:55 |
See also: 2019 Abilene Christian Wildcats football team.
| Statistics | McNeese State | Abilene Christian |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | 18 | 16 |
| Total yards | 383 | 415 |
| Rushing yards | 194 | 85 |
| Passing yards | 189 | 330 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 30:12 | 29:48 |
See also: 2019 Sam Houston State Bearkats football team.
| Statistics | Sam Houston State | McNeese State |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | 18 | 14 |
| Total yards | 416 | 318 |
| Rushing yards | 89 | 38 |
| Passing yards | 327 | 280 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 37:36 | 22:24 |
See also: 2019 Southeastern Louisiana Lions football team.
| Statistics | Southeastern Louisiana | McNeese State |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | 19 | 23 |
| Total yards | 452 | 473 |
| Rushing yards | 86 | 225 |
| Passing yards | 366 | 248 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 28:57 | 31:03 |
See also: 2019 Central Arkansas Bears football team.
| Statistics | McNeese State | Central Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | 19 | 23 |
| Total yards | 452 | 473 |
| Rushing yards | 86 | 225 |
| Passing yards | 366 | 248 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 28:57 | 31:03 |
See also: 2019 Houston Baptist Huskies football team.
| Statistics | Houston Baptist | McNeese State |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | 24 | 30 |
| Total yards | 347 | 567 |
| Rushing yards | 30 | 264 |
| Passing yards | 317 | 303 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 25:08 | 34:52 |
See also: 2019 Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks football team.
| Statistics | McNeese State | Stephen F. Austin |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | 21 | 17 |
| Total yards | 408 | 254 |
| Rushing yards | 246 | 79 |
| Passing yards | 162 | 175 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 32:08 | 27:52 |
See also: 2019 Northwestern State Demons football team.
| Statistics | Northwestern State | McNeese State |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | 18 | 14 |
| Total yards | 314 | 308 |
| Rushing yards | 20 | 117 |
| Passing yards | 294 | 191 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 27:19 | 32:41 |
See also: 2019 Nicholls Colonels football team.
| Statistics | McNeese State | Nicholls |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | 14 | 24 |
| Total yards | 236 | 519 |
| Rushing yards | 52 | 145 |
| Passing yards | 184 | 374 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 27:12 | 32:48 |
See also: 2019 Lamar Cardinals football team.
| Statistics | McNeese State | Lamar |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | 19 | 11 |
| Total yards | 518 | 210 |
| Rushing yards | 280 | 96 |
| Passing yards | 238 | 114 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 30:34 | 29:26 |