McNeese opener moved to ESPN2

McNeese State will open the football season on an even bigger stage than first announced.

The Cowboys’ game at Tarleton State has been moved to ESPN2.

The game in Stephenville, Texas on Aug. 24 was first moved to Week Zero to be nationally telecasted on ESPNU. Instead, the game has been transferred to the larger platform by ESPN it was announced Wednesday.

It is the first of two Cowboy games broadcast nationally on an ESPN network.

After opening the following week at home against Southern, McNeese will travel to Texas A&M to play the Aggies on the SEC Network. That game is set for an 11:45 a.m. kickoff.

The game against Tarleton remains at 2:45 p.m. kickoff time.

Last season the Texans used a big second half to defeat McNeese 52-34 in Cowboy Stadium to start the season. This meeting will be the third time since the spring campaign of 2021 that the two programs will play in the season opener.

Tarleton is a member of the Western Athletic Conference, but rumors have circulated that Texas officials would consider a move to join McNeese in the Southland if possible.

The SLC just expanded on July 1 with the additions of Stephen F. Austin and Texas-Rio Grande Valley, which will begin playing football in the fall of 2025.

This year’s opener is part of a rare 12-game season on the FCS level. Some division officials would like to see the schedule expanded to 12 games every year for FCS programs.

McNeese will play five home games this season, all set for 7 p.m. kickoffs.