| Photo by Kelly Richard |
| By Dubem Akukwe and Kelly Richard The Poke Press Despite losing 63-14 to the SEC ranked LSU Tigers on Saturday, McNeese Cowboys still got a big win for the program, reportedly bringing in $750,000 for playing the Tigers in Death Valley, more than they are projected to earn in all the other games of the season combined. Saturday’s matchup placed McNeese against one of the highest-ranked opponents in program history. At game time, LSU was ranked No. 11 making it the second-highest-ranked team the Cowboys have ever faced, behind No. 5 ranked Miami in 2000. Along with the payout, McNeese played before the largest crowd in program history. The sold out crowd of 102,321 in Tiger Stadium surpassed the previous high of 94,220 set in 2021, when the Cowboys last played LSU. The opportunity for the exposure on a national stage was not wasted by Jamaal “Speedy” Levi who ran for two touchdowns, scoring against the Tigers, and beating the projected point spread. The friendly rivalry brought families together from across the state, with some representing both teams on the field. McNeese is scheduled to return to Death Valley in 2029 with a projected payday of $775,000 for that matchup, which would bring the combined payments for the 2026 and 2029 games to over $1.5 million, a win for the Cowboys, no matter the final score on the field. |
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