The 2006 McNeese State Cowboys football team was an American football team that represented McNeese State University as a member of the Southland Conference (Southland) during the 2006 NCAA Division I FCS football season. In their seventh year under head coach Tommy Tate, the team compiled an overall record of 7âÂÂ5, with a mark of 5âÂÂ1 in conference play, and finished as Southland champion. The Cowboys advanced to the NCAA Division I Football Championship playoffs and lost to Montana in the first round.
After a 1âÂÂ4 start to the season, Tate was fired as head coach and replaced with Matt Viator as interim head coach. After a 5âÂÂ1 start as interim head coach, on November 13 Viator was named as permanent head coach of the Cowboys.