With a new head coach and a bevy of fresh faces, Southern University comes to town a bit of an unknown to the Cowboys.

McNeese State will open its home schedule having already played a game and hopefully worked out the kinks.

The Cowboys are coming off a heartbreaking 26-23 loss last week at the hands of No. 21 Tarleton State. Southern, under new head coach Terrence Graves, has yet to play a game. Graves coached the Jaguars in one game last year, closing out the season as the interim.

“There is no film to break down so that presents a challenge,” said McNeese head coach Gary Goff. “They are just like us, there’s new players everywhere so you know we’re trying to find junior college film, trying to find some D-II film. We’re trying to just see who are these guys and what they look like.

“It’s a challenge.”

Graves said he believes having played a game is a benefit for McNeese, but he’s not sure how much.

“I don’t know if it’s a huge advantage but it is an advantage in some senses of the word,” Graves said. “They had an opportunity to knock some of the kinks outs.”

One player who is known to both teams is McNeese quarterback Clifton McDowell, who in his first game with the Cowboys was productive.

McDowell finished 14 of 20 for 245 yards and a pair of long touchdown passes. He also ran 20 times for 67 more yards, giving him 302 yards of total offense.

“We had Clifton committed here at one time and he decided to go somewhere else,” Graves said. “He’s a very athletic quarterback. He can put the team on his back and propel them to the top.”

Noah Bodden will get the start at quarterback for Southern. The junior started his career at Grambling State in 2021. He was 21 of 41 for 376 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions last season.

“(Bodden) has the attitude of being a leader,” Graves said. “He wants to be the best.”

Bodden and the Jaguars will face an improving McNeese defense that limited Tarleton to 11 yards in the third quarter and 94 in the second half during a desperate comeback attempt.

“We are much improved,” McNeese defensive end Masey Lewis said. “We have got guys who can make plays all over the field this year. And we can get after the quarterback.”

McNeese sacked the Tarleton quarterback three times, knocking starter Victor Gabalis out by halftime. The Cowboys had nine sacks all of last season.

“Their defense looked pretty good,” Graves said. “They have some players, a lot of transfers. I guess they got their wind in the second half. They showed you why they can play at this level.”

The Jaguars have their big rusher in Ckelby Givens, the Southwestern Athletic Conference preseason Defensive Player of the Year selection. He had seven sacks and 21 total tackles for loss last season while forcing four fumbles.

He is a disruptor the Cowboys know all about. As for the rest of the Jaguars, McNeese will find out about them on the fly Saturday night.