Weber State football’s third consecutive game against an opponent from the Southland Conference wraps up its nonconference schedule when the McNeese State Cowboys come to Ogden for a Saturday night matchup.

The No. 25 Wildcats (2-2) need one more victory entering Big Sky play and the program that calls itself just McNeese (3-2) for athletic branding is playing its sixth game.

Outside of an expected blowout loss (52-10) at Texas A&M, the Cowboys look tough. McNeese opened the season in Week 0 with a 26-23 road loss to Tarleton State; the Texans are now 3-1 and ranked No. 16 in FCS.

McNeese has home wins over Southern (21-7) and Stephen F. Austin (28-24), the latter of which just blew out Northern Colorado 48-7. The Cowboys arrive in Ogden after most recently crushing Alcorn State 42-14; Alcorn has a win over a non-DI team and two FBS losses.

MEET THE COWBOYS

McNeese got a boost at the quarterback spot when senior Clifton McDowell, who led Montana to the FCS championship game, landed in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The 6-foot-5 dual threat player had transferred to Temple for his final season before transferring again after spring camp.

He’s been great so far. McDowell (No. 2 jersey) averages 204 passing yards per game on a 65% completion rate, with six touchdowns (all to different receivers) and two interceptons over eight games. He also leads his team on the ground, running for 61 yards per game (4.8 per carry) and five more touchdowns.

“He’s seen it all, can run, can throw, so he presents challenges,” WSU head coach Mickey Mental said. “They’re pretty balanced.”

Sophomore receiver Jer’Michael Carter (No. 10), who is 6-foot-4, has been McDowell’s No. 1 target with 15 catches for 181 yards and one touchdown. Matthew McCallister (No. 12, 31.7 yards per catch) and Kameran Senegal (No. 16, 21 yards per catch) can pick up chunks.

Joshon Barbie (No. 25) has been the most effective back for McNeese, totaling 180 yards on 5.3 per carry, while D’Angelo Durham (No. 1) gets the most carries (41 for 169 yards).

McNeese has totaled 891 rushing yards and 1,011 passing.

Sophomore defensive back Boogsie Silvera (No. 4) has been a playmaker, leading the team with 39 tackles, two interceptions and one forced fumble. Linebacker Micah Davey (No. 48) also has 39 tackles, adding two sacks.

“They’re fast up front, their secondary applies pressure very well, they tackle in open space — so we’ve got to make people miss, win one-on-ones and put our guys in situations to be successful,” Mental said.

Finn Lapin punts for a 46-yard average. Kicker Tyler Larco is 2 for 5 this season, missing once in the 30s range and going 0 for 2 in the 40s range. Since McNeese goes for it on fourth down more than twice per game, at a successful 7-for-9 clip, expect the Cowboys to make Weber State earn getting off the field in key moments.

TEAM VS. TEAM METRICS

Through four games, Weber State has scored 25.3 points per game, averaging 388 yards on 5.6 yards per play. Defensively, WSU has allowed an average of 17 points on 316 yards per game, with an average of 4.9 per play.

The Wildcats have four defensive takeaways (two fumbles, two interceptions) and two turnovers on offense (one interception, one fumble) for a plus-two turnover margin.

In five games for McNeese, the Cowboys have averaged 24.8 points per game on 380 yards per game and 5.9 yards per play. Defensively, McNeese has allowed 24.6 points on 388 yards per game, with an average of 5.5 yards per play.

The Cowboys play hectic games, turnover-wise, and have a minus-four turnover margin. McNeese has turned it over 12 times (four interceptions, eight fumbles) while forcing eight turnovers (three interceptions, five fumbles).

ODDS & PREDICTIONS

Jeff Sagarin ranks Weber State at No. 133 (up four from last week) in all of Division I (FBS and FCS, 263 total teams). McNeese is No. 173. Accounting for home-field advantage, his formula favors Weber State by 11.5 points.

ESPN’s Bill Connelly ranks Weber State at No. 15 (up eight) in FCS (129 teams) and McNeese at No. 63. His formula predicts a Weber State win 36-16.

D Ratings predicts a Weber State victory of 33-22 at 80% probability.

WEATHER

Somehow, still hot! But cooling earlier with fall sunset times. A high of 92 degrees cools slightly to 90 at a sunny 6 p.m. kickoff. The sun sets at 7:13 p.m. just before halftime when it should cool to the mid-80s. By game’s end, the forecast calls for 79 degrees.

TV & RADIO

Weber State’s video production will stream on the ESPN+ subscription service, available on the ESPN app or at WatchESPN.com, with Tony Parks and Riley Jensen on the call.

Carl Arky and Jerry Graybeal have the WSU radio call on 103.1 FM over the air in Utah and online at 1031thewave.com.

ALL-TIME SERIES

McNeese holds a 3-1 advantage in the series. Weber State won in the first matchup, a 1990 game in Louisiana, and the Cowboys have won three straight (1992, 2012, 2013). WSU returns the trip to McNeese next season.