McNeese football to begin practice today

The 2015 McNeese football team reported for fall camp Wednesday and went through several meetings with compliance and academics before turning their attention to football.
The Cowboys will hit the practice field for the first time today beginning at 4:30 p.m.
Also on Wednesday, the Football Championship Subdivision Preseason Coaches Top 25 Poll was released, and the Cowboys were positioned at No. 23. McNeese finished 6-5 last season and lost its final three games but returns most of the players from a team that started 6-2 and nearly upset 19th-ranked Nebraska in Lincoln before injuries settled in late to help start the season ending slide.
McNeese will open the season at LSU Sept. 5. The Tigers are ranked No. 13 in the Amway Coaches Poll released last week.
The Cowboys will play two other teams ranked in the FCS preseason poll — Oct. 10 vs. No. 19 Southeastern Louisiana and Nov. 7 against 4th-ranked Sam Houston State. Both games will be played in Cowboy Stadium.
Other Southland Conference members, Stephen F. Austin and Central Arkansas, received votes in the poll.
North Dakota State, a four-time reigning FCS National Champion, tops the poll followed by Illinois State, Villanova, Sam Houston State and Coastal Carolina to round out the top five.