1979 McNeese State Cowboys football team

The 1979 McNeese State Cowboys football team represented McNeese State University as a member of the Southland Conference during the 1979 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by first-year head coach Ernie Duplechin, the Cowboys compiled an overall record of 11–1 with a mark of 5–0 in conference play, winning the Southland title. McNeese State was invited to the Independence Bowl, where they lost to Syracuse.