The Celebration Bowl is a postseason college football bowl game, first played in the 2015 season, contested between the champions of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC)—the two prominent conferences of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in NCAA Division I. It serves as the de facto national championship of black college football.[3][a] The game is held annually in Atlanta on the third weekend of December, and has been played at the Georgia Dome and Mercedes-Benz Stadium. It is currently the only active bowl game to feature teams from the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).[4]
History
The Celebration Bowl is a successor to two previous bowl games between the MEAC and SWAC, the Pelican Bowl and Heritage Bowl.[5][6] Because the Celebration Bowl takes place during the FCS playoff tournament, neither the SWAC nor the MEAC can send their champion to the tournament. At the time the Celebration Bowl was inaugurated, the SWAC's regular season already extended too late into the year for its champion to enter the FCS playoffs, while the MEAC dropped its automatic bid to the FCS playoffs in order to send its champion to the Celebration Bowl.[5]
The game is organized by ESPN Events,[7] which also runs the MEAC/SWAC Challenge, the annual interconference game between the two conferences held over Labor Day weekend.[8] The Celebration Bowl was sponsored by the Air Force Reserve for three playings: 2015, 2016, and 2018.[1][2] On December 9, 2020, Cricket Wireless signed on as title sponsor of the game, formally making it the Cricket Celebration Bowl.[9]
In June 2017, the SWAC announced that it would discontinue the SWAC Championship Game following the 2017 playing, resulting in the SWAC regular season champion automatically qualifying for the Celebration Bowl.[10] However, in June 2018,[11] the SWAC reversed course and continues to hold its championship game, with the winner advancing to the Celebration Bowl.[12]
In 2020, the Celebration Bowl was not played, after the MEAC canceled all fall athletics due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the SWAC postponed its football season into the spring of 2021.[13]
Game results
MVPs
Two MVPs are selected for each game; one an offensive player, the other a defensive player.
| Year | Offensive MVP | Defensive MVP | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Pos. | Team | Player | Pos. | Team | |
| 2015 | Tarik Cohen | RB | North Carolina A&T | Denzel Jones | LB | North Carolina A&T |
| 2016 | Martez Carter | RB | Grambling State | Jameel Jackson | DB | Grambling State |
| 2017 | Marquell Cartwright | RB | North Carolina A&T | Franklin "Mac" McCain III | CB | North Carolina A&T |
| 2018 | Lamar Raynard | QB | North Carolina A&T | Richie Kittle | DB | North Carolina A&T |
| 2019 | Kylil Carter | QB | North Carolina A&T | Jacob Roberts | LB | North Carolina A&T |
| 2021 | Shaquan Davis | WR | South Carolina State | Cobie Durant | DB | South Carolina State |
| 2022 | Davius Richard | QB | North Carolina Central | Khalil Baker | DB | North Carolina Central |
| 2023 | Kelvin Dean | RB | Florida A&M | Isaiah Major | LB | Florida A&M |
| 2024 | Jacobian Morgan | QB | Jackson State | Jeremiah Williams | DL | Jackson State |
| 2025 | Ryan Subblefield | QB | South Carolina State | Brenyen Scott | DB | South Carolina State |
Most appearances
Updated through the December 2025 playing (10 games, 20 total appearances). Wins appear in bold font in the Years column.
| Rank | Appearances | Team | Wins | Losses | Win pct. | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | North Carolina A&T | 4 | 0 | 1.000 | 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019 |
| 2 | 3 | South Carolina State | 2 | 1 | .667 | 2021, 2024, 2025 |
| 3 | Jackson State | 1 | 2 | .333 | 2021, 2022, 2024 | |
| 3 | Alcorn State | 0 | 3 | .000 | 2015, 2018, 2019 | |
| 3 | 2 | Grambling State | 1 | 1 | .500 | 2016, 2017 |
| 2 | North Carolina Central | 1 | 1 | .500 | 2016, 2022 | |
| 4 | 1 | Florida A&M | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | 2023 |
| 1 | Howard | 0 | 1 | .000 | 2023 | |
| 1 | Prairie View A&M | 0 | 1 | .000 | 2025 |
Game records
| Team | Record, Team vs. Opponent | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Most points scored (one team) | 64, North Carolina A&T vs. Alcorn State | 2019 |
| Most points scored (losing team) | 44, Alcorn State vs. North Carolina A&T | 2019 |
| Most points scored (both teams) | 108, North Carolina A&T vs. Alcorn State | 2019 |
| Fewest points allowed | 7, South Carolina State vs. Jackson State | 2024 |
| Largest margin of victory | 21, shared by: South Carolina State vs. Jackson State Jackson State vs. South Carolina State | 2021 2024 |
| Total yards | 574, North Carolina A&T vs. Alcorn State | 2019 |
| Rushing yards | 366, North Carolina A&T vs. Alcorn State | 2015 |
| Passing yards | 364, North Carolina A&T vs. Alcorn State | 2019 |
| First downs | 24, shared by: Alcorn State vs. North Carolina A&T Jackson State vs. North Carolina Central | 2019 2022 |
| Fewest yards allowed | 178, South Carolina State vs. Jackson State | 2024 |
| Fewest rushing yards allowed | 19, Jackson State vs. South Carolina State | 2021 |
| Fewest passing yards allowed | 106, Howard vs. Florida A&M | 2023 |
| Individual | Record, Player, Team vs. Opponent | Year |
| All-purpose yards | 348, shared by: Tarik Cohen (North Carolina A&T) Shedeur Sanders (Jackson State) | 2015 2022 |
| Touchdowns (all-purpose) | 5, Shedeur Sanders (Jackson State) | 2022 |
| Rushing yards | 295, Tarik Cohen (North Carolina A&T) | 2015 |
| Rushing touchdowns | 3, Tarik Cohen (North Carolina A&T) | 2015 |
| Passing yards | 364, Kylil Carter (North Carolina A&T) | 2019 |
| Passing touchdowns | 6, Kylil Carter (North Carolina A&T) | 2019 |
| Receiving yards | 150, Chris Blair (Alcorn State) | 2019 |
| Receptions | 10, Elijah Bell (North Carolina A&T) | 2017 |
| Receiving touchdowns | 3, Shaquan Davis (South Carolina State) | 2021 |
| Tackles | 17, Aaron Smith (South Carolina State) | 2024 |
| Sacks | 2, James Houston (Jackson State) | 2021 |
| Interceptions | 1, shared by multiple players | |
| Long Plays | Record, Player, Team vs. Opponent | Year |
| Touchdown run | 83 yds., Tarik Cohen (North Carolina A&T) | 2015 |
| Touchdown pass | 85 yds., Shedeur Sanders to Kevin Coleman Jr. (Jackson State) | 2022 |
| Kickoff return | 79 yds., Malik Wilson (North Carolina A&T) | 2018 |
| Punt return | 84 yds., Anthony Williams, Jr. (Alcorn State) | 2015 |
| Interception return | 38 yds., Anthony Petty (Jackson State) | 2024 |
| Fumble return | 3 yds, Taurence Wilson (Alcorn State) | 2019 |
| Punt | 74 yds., Dyson Roberts (South Carolina State) | 2021 |
| Field goal | 45 yds., Cody Jones (North Carolina A&T) | 2015 |
Broadcasting
Television and radio coverage of the bowl has included play-by-play announcers, color commentators, and sideline reporters.
Television
| Date | Network | Play-by-play | Color commentary | Sideline reporter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015[27] | ABC | Mark Neely | Jay Walker | Tiffany Greene |
| 2016[28] | ||||
| 2017 | ||||
| 2018 | Mark Jones | Dusty Dvoracek & Jay Walker | Molly McGrath & Roddy Jones | |
| 2019 | Tiffany Greene & Roddy Jones | |||
| 2021 | Robert Griffin III & Jay Walker | Quint Kessenich & Tiffany Greene | ||
| 2022 | Tiffany Greene | Jay Walker | Tiffany Blackmon | |
| 2023 | Quint Kessenich | |||
| 2024 | ||||
| 2025 | Harry Lyles Jr. & Quint Kessenich |
Radio
| Date | Network | Play-by-play | Color commentary | Sideline reporter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | RedVoice, LLC | Sam Crenshaw | Hugh Douglas | |
| 2016 | Lericia Harris | |||
| 2017 | Gameday Radio | Randy McMichael | ||
| 2018 | Andy Demetra | |||
| 2019 | Bowlday Radio | Travis Jones | Tenitra Batiste | |
| 2021 | Bowl Season Radio | D. J. Shockley | ||
| 2022 | ESPN Radio | Anish Shroff | Max Starks | Harry Lyles Jr. |
| 2023 | Bowl Season Radio | Travis Jones | Marshall Newhouse | Olivia Moody |
| 2024 | ESPN Radio | Jason Ross Jr. | Max Starks | Jordan Reid |
| 2025 |
See also
- Pioneer Bowl and Florida Beach Bowl, similar bowl games for NCAA Division II HBCUs.
- List of college bowl games
- African Americans in Atlanta
- MEAC/SWAC Challenge
- HBCU Legacy Bowl
Notes
- ↑ Not all HBCUs in FCS are members of MEAC and SWAC—see discussion at Black college football national championship#Celebration Bowl.
References
- 1 2 Mark W. Wright (July 19, 2017). "SWAC bets big on the Celebration Bowl: League drops its own championship to focus on the money and TV exposure of the HBCU title contest". Andscape. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
- 1 2 Anna Negron (October 9, 2018). "Air Force Reserve Renews Its Title Sponsorship of the Celebration Bowl". espnmediazone.com. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
- ↑ Hunt, Donald (March 31, 2015). "HBCU greats laud the Celebration Bowl". ESPN. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
- ↑ Chiusano, Anthony (December 21, 2019). "Celebration Bowl: History, all-time results and how to watch in 2019". NCAA.com. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
- 1 2 Patterson, Chip. "MEAC, SWAC to play in Atlanta-based Celebration Bowl after 2015 season". www.cbssports.com. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on March 10, 2016. Retrieved March 20, 2015 – via Wayback Machine.
- ↑ Reese, Earnest (December 21, 1996). "Heritage Bowl struggling for acceptance". The Atlanta Journal and Constitution. p. 9H.
- ↑ Hudson, Phill W. (March 18, 2015). "Atlanta to Host New Celebration Bowl". Atlanta Business Chronicle. American City Business Journals. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
- ↑ "Champions of MEAC, SWAC to meet in new Celebration Bowl". www.usatoday.com. Associated Press. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
- ↑ "CRICKET WIRELESS NAMED NEW TITLE SPONSOR OF MEAC/SWAC CHALLENGE KICKOFF AND CELEBRATION BOWL". Retrieved December 9, 2020.
- ↑ "SWAC To Forgo Football Title Game After 2017". SWAC.org. NeuLion. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
- ↑ "SWAC football, basketball championships returning to Birmingham". AL.com. July 12, 2018. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
- ↑ "2018 Toyota SWAC Football Championship Game Relocated". FOX10 News. Meredith Corporation. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
- ↑ "MEAC-SWAC 2020 football matchups in Atlanta canceled". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
- ↑ David Purdum (December 19, 2015). "5 observations from the Celebration Bowl". ajc.com. Retrieved December 1, 2018.
- ↑ "Event Results: NCCU 9 at Grambling 10". statbroadcast.com. December 17, 2016. Retrieved December 1, 2018.
- ↑ "North Carolina A&T wins 2nd Celebration Bowl in 3 years". ESPN. Retrieved December 1, 2018.
- ↑ "Wilson's return pushes NCA&T past Alcorn in Celebration Bowl". ESPN. AP. December 15, 2018. Retrieved December 15, 2018.
- ↑ "Carter, NCA&T rout Alcorn State 64-44 in Celebration Bowl". ESPN.com. AP. December 21, 2019. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
- ↑ Solomon, Adam (July 16, 2020). "SWAC vs MEAC Celebration Bowl is Cancelled". alabamanews.net. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
- ↑ "Fields throws 4 TDs, S Carolina State wins Celebration Bowl". apnews.com. AP. December 18, 2021. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
- ↑ "NC Central beats Jackson State in Deion Sanders' final game". apnews.com. AP. December 17, 2022. Retrieved December 17, 2022.
- ↑ "Moussa throws 3 4th-quarter touchdown passes as Florida A&M beats Howard 30-26 in Celebration Bowl". apnews.com. AP. December 16, 2023. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
- ↑ "Jackson State vs. South Carolina State Box Score". ESPN. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
- ↑ "South Carolina State Wins Celebration Bowl in Fourth OT, Defeating Prairie View 40-38". ESPN. Associated Press. December 13, 2025. Retrieved January 1, 2026.
- ↑ "MVP Awards". thecelebrationbowl.com. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
- ↑ @WiltonReports (December 14, 2024). "Celebration Bowl" (Tweet). Retrieved December 14, 2024 – via X (formerly Twitter).
- ↑ "College Football Playoff Highlights 2015–16 Bowl Schedule". ESPN Media Zone. December 8, 2015. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
- ↑ "College Football Playoff Featuring Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State and Washington Highlights ESPN's 38-Game Bowl Schedule". ESPN Media Zone. December 6, 2016. Retrieved December 6, 2016.