McNeese vs. Incarnate Word 2026 Preview: Cowboys Look for Third Straight Conference Win
McNeese heads to San Antonio with momentum, but the Cardinals are finding their rhythm, too.
Connor Couvillion | October 20, 2026
How to Watch McNeese vs. Incarnate Word
Date: Saturday, October 24, 2026
Kickoff: 4 p.m. CT
Location: Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium, San Antonio, Texas
Streaming: ESPN+
Radio: 92.9 The Lake
Betting Odds
A verified sportsbook spread, over/under and moneyline were not available at the time of writing.
Those numbers will be added if a confirmed market becomes available before kickoff.
Cowboys Looking to Keep the Momentum Rolling
It hasn't exactly been a smooth ride for McNeese this season.
But after back-to-back Southland Conference victories, the Cowboys are finally beginning to build some momentum.
McNeese escaped Natchitoches last Saturday with a 24-21 victory over Northwestern State, improving to 3-4 overall and 2-2 in conference play.
For a team that stumbled through the early portion of its schedule, a third consecutive league victory would be a significant step toward salvaging the season.
Standing in the way is an Incarnate Word team with the exact same overall and conference record.
And the Cardinals are coming off a pretty impressive performance themselves.
McNeese Found a Playmaker in Kevin Rideau
Sometimes all it takes is one player to change the direction of a football game.
Against Northwestern State, that player was freshman wide receiver Kevin Rideau.
The Westlake product made his first collegiate start and finished with 101 receiving yards on just two catches, including a 37-yard touchdown.
His 64-yard reception also helped ignite the Cowboys' second-half comeback.
Quarterback Jake Strong finished with 282 passing yards and a touchdown, while McNeese's defense forced five turnovers.
The Cowboys scored 21 unanswered points after halftime before Northwestern State mounted a late rally.
The good news? McNeese found a way to win.
The bad news? The Cowboys nearly let a 24-7 fourth-quarter lead disappear.
That won't be something head coach Matt Viator wants to repeat in San Antonio.
Incarnate Word Has Weapons of Its Own
Don't let the Cardinals' 3-4 record fool you.
Incarnate Word just dismantled UTRGV 41-16, with Jayden Hibbler producing 95 rushing yards and another 92 receiving yards.
Quarterback Emmett Brown threw for 193 yards, and the Cardinals used a strong defensive performance to take control early.
UIW intercepted three passes in the first half, converting those mistakes into 17 points.
That should sound familiar to McNeese fans, considering the Cowboys relied heavily on turnovers to beat Northwestern State.
Both teams understand how quickly a football game can change when the defense starts taking the ball away.
A Chance to Change the Season
Saturday is about more than getting back to .500.
With both programs tied at 2-2 in Southland Conference play, the winner takes an important step forward in the conference race.
McNeese has already shown it can make explosive plays through the air, but offensive consistency and finishing games remain concerns.
Incarnate Word has the talent to punish those mistakes.
If Jake Strong gets time in the pocket and the Cowboys can keep Hibbler from taking over, McNeese has a legitimate opportunity to come home with its third straight conference victory.
Three straight wins would have sounded pretty good a few weeks ago.
Now the Cowboys have a chance to make it happen.
