With a rebuilt roster and retooled offense, Gary Goff begins his second year as the head coach of McNeese State Saturday night with heightened hope and hype.

The Cowboys welcome Tarleton State to Cowboy Stadium in a battle of programs that have their eyes on the future while trying to flip the script on their present.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN+.

“I am excited to see how this team plays,” said Goff. “We have had a great camp. I think we are ready to go.”

After three straight losing seasons, including back-to-back 4-7 campaigns, the fanbase is ready for a change. Goff gave them that by bringing in 57 new players and overhauling the entire roster in one offseason.

The same can be said for Tarleton, which also has a bevy of newcomers.

“This should be a very good test as to what type of a team we both have,” Goff said. “We are two very similar programs. In many ways, it’s like looking in a mirror.”

Tarleton is coming off a 6-5 campaign and looking to make a run at the playoffs as well after spending a great deal of time upgrading its own roster.

“There will be a lot of unknowns,” said Tarleton head coach Todd Whitten, who is 0-6 himself all-time against McNeese. “Typically, it is a very tough place to play. They will be a completely different team and we will need to be ready to adjust.

“It will be a tall order for us to go in there and win.”

Both teams will have new quarterbacks after having long and tough battles in camp for the starting job. McNeese is expected to start former junior college All-American Nate Glantz while the Texans have announced they will open with Victor Gabalis, a transfer from Utah Tech.

Gabalis will have a pair of returning receivers to throw to led by Jaden Smith, a 6-foot-6 junior. That should test a new McNeese secondary.

“Our corners have experience and we match up well,” said Goff. “They have those two really good receivers who will test us. They are good.”

The Texans also return Derrel Kelley who rushed for 1,004 yards last year. Tarleton’s offense will test the Cowboys.

“We are ready to play somebody else,” said McNeese nose tackle Trey Winters, who will make his first start for the Pokes. “We want to show how improved we are.”

Glantz beat out another transfer, Tre’ Simmons for the starting spot but Goff has said both could play though he has never come out and proclaimed a starter yet. They will be throwing to a host of new and improved receivers, including Jon McCall whose four touchdown catches in scrimmages this summer have raised the bar in the receiving room.

D’Angelo Durham will lead a trio of Cowboy runners as he returns from a severe leg injury that cost him the last seven games a season ago.

McNeese hopes this year that the offense comes around with the help of the passing game and behind a solid offense line.

“I like where we are as a program,” said Goff. “We are excited to get out there and play and see where we are.”

A victory would give the Cowboys four straight wins dating back to the end of last season, but Goff doesn’t want to put too much pressure on his still-young team. McNeese has just four seniors on its roster and only six players will run out of eligibility at the end of this season.

“One game will not define us one way or the other,” said Goff. “It’s a long season, I just want us to go out there and we will worry about the score at the end.”

If the Cowboys are going to start a return to Southland Conference and playoff contention it starts Saturday against the Texans.