| Year: | 1976 |
| Team: | McNeese State Cowboys |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Southland Conference |
| Short Conf: | Southland |
| Record: | 10–2 |
| Conf Record: | 4–1 |
| Head Coach: | Jack Doland |
| Hc Year: | 7th |
| Stadium: | Cowboy Stadium |
| Champion: | Southland champion |
| Bowl: | Independence Bowl |
| Bowl Result: | W 20–16 vs. Tulsa |
The 1976 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 1976 NCAA Division I football season. In their seventh year under head coach Jack Doland, the team compiled an overall record of 10–2 with a mark of 4–1 in conference play, and were Southland champions. After the regular season, the Cowboys defeated Tulsa in the Independence Bowl.