Two teams on different levels look to find their footing Saturday in “The Swamp.”

For the first time in program history, McNeese State heads to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainsville, Florida to take on the SEC’s Gators.

Both clubs are coming off disappointing outings in their openers, Florida falling to No. 14 Utah while the Cowboys fell at home to Tarleton State.

Each head coach talked about finding a rhythm and using this week as a chance to improve. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. Lake Charles time with the game on ESPNU.

“This is a great opportunity for our team to go out there, have some fun, and play a great football team in a great college football environment,” said McNeese head coach Gary Goff.

The Cowboys’ second-year coach knows Florida overmatches his team, but he wants them to play their game despite the odds.

“All week long we have starred at the Great Wall of China and tried to figure out how to move it,” said Goff. “On defense try to figure out how to tackle a cheetah in the open field.

“It won’t be easy. It will be a physical game and I just want us to go over there and play four quarters hard and to the best of our ability.”

McNeese will pick up a check for a nifty $500,000 to play the game. It is just the second time the Cowboys have played an SEC school. The other two games were against LSU.

The Pokes played Texas A&M and Missouri before they were in the SEC. McNeese does have a pretty good track record playing higher-level programs, posting a 14-32-2 record in such games.

And the last time they were in the Sunshine State, they ripped South Florida 53-21 back in 2013. Gator head coach Billy Napier, who was previously at Louisiana-Lafayette, knows all about the Cowboys.

“Anybody who knows anything about football knows McNeese has a winning tradition and expects to win,” Napier said. “Knowing the history of that program and that staff they will present issues for us.”

Florida is 22-1 all-time against FCS teams and has won 33 straight home openers, tops in the NCAA. Still, playing on the big stage is also something the McNeese players are looking forward to.

“It is a great opportunity for myself and the team to showcase how good we are,” said Cowboy linebacker Micah Davey. “We can show how well we can compete against that level. You love to play these games.”

Davey, who had 12 tackles last week to lead the Pokes, said he was in contact with his dad, former LSU quarterback Rohan Davey, to get advice about playing in “The Swamp.”

“It will be a new experience for me, but a great experience,” Micah Davey said.

Florida and McNeese will be using this game as a way to get back on track. The Cowboys don’t want to get into a situation where they are in awe of their surroundings.

“We are excited and want to embrace the opportunity,” said quarterback Nate Glantz. “But our message is to go back to playing Cowboy football and do what we do. We want to try and improve each game and this is no different.”

Glantz wants to improve on an offense that scored 34 points but struggled for consistency in the opener. Glantz himself struggled going just 15-of-35 for 166 yards, most of that coming in the fourth quarter.

Both Florida and McNeese will try to establish their running games, as each had some struggles in their openers after falling behind.

Gator quarterback Graham Mertz, who threw for 333 yards at Utah will test a McNeese secondary that allowed 344 yards to Tarleton. The Texans finished with 554 yards of total offense.

“We have a mountain to climb we know that,” said Goff. “Nobody is picking us. I want the players to go out there and enjoy the atmosphere and have some fun and play our style of football.

“It doesn’t happen often but it does happen. You never know about upsets.”

Realistically, McNeese wants to come away healthy and better prepared for the rest of their season. That’s what a win would look like Saturday.