Football | 12/13/2025 7:56:12 AM

ATLANTA, Ga. – The 10th annual Cricket Celebration Bowl kicks off today at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, showcasing the premier postseason matchup between champions of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). The game is set for a 12:00 p.m. ET kickoff and will be broadcast live nationally on ABC.

This year’s marquee matchup features MEAC champion South Carolina State University facing SWAC champion Prairie View A&M University in a battle for title of the HBCU National Football Champions.

South Carolina State earned its berth in the Celebration Bowl after completing the 2025 season with a perfect 5-0 conference record and a 9-3 overall mark. The Bulldogs return to the postseason bowl game for the second consecutive year, having also finished undefeated in conference play last season. Head Coach Chennis Berry was named the MEAC Coach of the Year, while senior defensive back Jarod Washington earned MEAC Defensive Player of the Year honors.

Prairie View A&M makes its first-ever appearance in the Cricket Celebration Bowl after a historic season in which the Panthers tied a program record with 10 victories, a milestone that has stood for more than 60 years. Prairie View A&M posted a 10-1 overall record, winning nine of its last ten games, and finished 8-1 in SWAC play, culminating in a thrilling 23-21 victory over Jackson State in the 2025 SWAC Championship Game. Head Coach Tremaine Jackson was named SWAC Coach of the Year.

The MEAC enters the contest with a 6-3 all-time record in the Celebration Bowl. South Carolina State holds a 1-1 record in the event, earning a 31-10 victory over Jackson State in 2021 before falling to the Tigers 28-7 in the 2024 matchup.