The McNeese Cowboys were selected to finish sixth in the Southland Conference Preseason Poll, the conference announced on Monday as part of their Southland Football Opening Drive in San Antonio, Texas.
Defending champion and in-state rival Nicholls was picked to repeat as champions. The Colonels received nine first-place votes and edged out Incarnate Word for the top spot.
In addition to the order of finish, the conference announced the Preseason All-Conference teams. The Cowboys had three players represented.
Micah Davey and Cole Leclair were selected to the first-team, while Levi Wyatt was named to the second-team.
Davey enjoyed a breakout season at linebacker in 2023, with first-team All-Conference honors as well as All-American honors from multiple publications. The Baton Rouge native led the FCS with 153 total tackles on the season. He returns as a top defensive standout for the Cowboys in 2024.
Leclair, a senior offensive lineman from Middleburg, Florida, also earned Southland honors last season. He was picked to the second-team in 2023 after a solid campaign in which he started every game. He has made 35 consecutive starts dating back to his time at Valdosta State, including 21 straight with McNeese.
Wyatt returns as a starting corner for the Cowboys, and is set to take another step in his progression. The Mississippi native had a team-high seven pass breakups to go along with an interception in 2023.
2024 Southland Conference Football Preseason Poll
| Pl | Team (First-place votes) | Total |
| 1. | Nicholls | 119 (9) |
| 2. | UIW | 113 (8) |
| 3. | Southeastern | 94 |
| 4. | Lamar | 88 (1) |
| 5. | SFA | 72 |
| 6. | McNeese | 64 |
| 7. | HCU | 41 |
| 8. | Texas A&M-Commerce | 37 |
| 9. | Northwestern State | 25 |
2024 Southland Conference Football Preseason All-Conference Team
First Team All-Conference Offense
| Pos. | Name | School | Class | Hometown |
| QB | Zach Calzada | UIW | Gr. | Buford, Ga. |
| RB | Jaylon Spears | Nicholls | R-Jr. | New Orleans, La. |
| RB | Collin Guggenheim | Nicholls | Sr. | Kenner, La. |
| TE/HB | Lee Negrotto | Nicholls | Sr. | Pass Christian, Miss. |
| WR | Darius Lewis | Southeastern Louisiana | R-Sr. | New Orleans, La. |
| WR | Quincy Brown | Nicholls | Jr. | St. Rose, La. |
| WR | Andre Dennis | Lamar | Jr. | Beaumont, Texax |
| OL | Evan Roussel | Nicholls | Sr. | Lutcher, La. |
| OL | Cole Leclair | McNeese | Sr. | Middleburg, Fla. |
| OL | Jevale Roberson | Lamar | Sr. | Cleveland, Texas |
| OL | Elias Ripley | Lamar | Sr. | Cedar Rapids, Iowa |
| OL | Jhy Orgeron | Southeastern | Sr. | Galliano, La. |
| PK | Dillon Fedor | HCU | Sr. | Henderson, Nev. |
| P | Kylan Dupre | Nicholls | Jr. | Geismar, La. |
First Team All-Conference Defense
| Pos. | Name | School | Class | Hometown |
| DL | Rasheed Lovelace | Nicholls | R-So. | Pensacola, Fla. |
| DL | Caleb Williams | Lamar | Sr. | Houston, Texas |
| DL | Kershawn Fisher | Nicholls | Sr. | New Orleans, La. |
| DL | Joe Mason | Nicholls | Sr. | Shreveport, La. |
| LB | Micah Davey | McNeese | R-Jr. | Baton Rouge, La. |
| LB | Tylan Foster | UIW | Sr. | Houston, Texas |
| LB | Hayden Shaheen | Nicholls | R-So. | Baton Rouge, La. |
| DB | Tyler Morton | Nicholls | Sr. | St. Rose, La. |
| DB | Max Epps | Texas A&M-Commerce | R-Sr. | Spring, Texas |
| DB | Kendarius Smith | Nicholls | Sr. | Meridian, Miss. |
| DB | Ronald Wilson | UIW | Sr. | Fort Worth, Texas |
| DB | Ramond Stevens | Lamar | Sr. | New Orleans, La. |
| KR | Dekalon Taylor | UIW | Jr. | Longview, Texas |
| PR | Darius Lewis | Southeastern | R-Sr. | New Orleans, La. |
Second Team All-Conference Offense
| Pos. | Name | School | Class | Hometown |
| QB | Pat McQuaide | Nicholls | Jr. | Solon, Ohio |
| RB | Khalan Griffin | Lamar | Sr. | Tyler, Texas |
| RB | Harlan Dixon | Southeastern | Sr. | Slidell, La. |
| TE/HB | Devyn Gibbs | Lamar | Jr. | Mabank, Texas |
| WR | Mason Pierce | UIW | Gr. | Houston, Texas |
| WR | Sevonne Rhea | Lamar | Sr. | Houston, Texas |
| WR | Kylon Harris | SFA | Jr. | Reserve, La. |
| OL | Reggie Brooks | Lamar | Jr. | Wylie, Texas |
| OL | Dion Daniels | HCU | Sr. | Tyler, TExas |
| OL | Reed Lambert | Nicholls | Sr. | New Roads, La. |
| OL | Rasheed Jackson | UIW | So. | Columbus, Ohio |
| OL | Brockhim Wicks | Southeastern | R-Sr. | Plaquemine, La. |
| PK | Chris Esqueda | Lamar | Sr. | Waco, Texas |
| P | Mitchell McGarry | Texas A&M-Commerce | R-Sr. | Tannum Sands Queensland, Australia |
Second Team All-Conference Defense
| Pos. | Name | School | Class | Hometown |
| DL | Marcus Brown | UIW | Sr. | Houston, Texas |
| DL | Chase Carter | UIW | R-Sr. | Brooklyn Park, Md. |
| DL | Zae Smith | HCU | Jr. | La Maruqe, Texas |
| DL | Jaymond Jackson | Lamar | Sr. | Lindale, Texas |
| LB | Eli Ennis | Nicholls | Jr. | Ohatchee, Ala. |
| LB | Mister Williams | UIW | Jr. | Canoga Park, Calif. |
| LB | Donte’ Daniels | Southeastern | Sr. | Port Sulphur, La. |
| DB | Mason Chambers | UIW | Sr. | San Antonio, Texas |
| DB | Jaden Rios | Texas A&M-Commerce | R-Jr. | Frisco, Texas |
| DB | Kristian Pugh | Lamar | Jr. | Beaumont, Texas |
| DB | Jeremiah Walker | SFA | Sr. | Houston, Texas |
| DB | Levi Wyatt | McNeese | Jr. | Byram, Miss. |
| KR | Darius Lewis | Southeastern | R-Sr. | New Orleans, La. |
| PR | Dekalon Taylor | UIW | Jr. | Longview, Texas |