The HBCU football postseason crowns its champion in the Cricket Celebration Bowl, pitting MEAC titleholder South Carolina State against SWAC powerhouse Prairie View A&M in a historic first-ever matchup. The Bulldogs seek redemption after a 28-7 loss to Jackson State in 2024’s bowl, leaning on explosive offense and defensive turnovers. Prairie View A&M, under first-year head coach Tremaine Jackson, rides a SWAC championship upset over Jackson State into its program debut, boasting the nation’s stingiest pass defense. This neutral-site clash at Atlanta’s iconic dome promises a defensive battle with dual-threat QBs testing elite secondaries—expect a low-scoring affair deciding the Black college football national title.
Venue and Game Details
- Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia (capacity: 71,000). This state-of-the-art retractable-roof venue has hosted the Celebration Bowl since 2015, delivering NFL-level luxury and a vibrant HBCU atmosphere with marching bands and celebrity halftime shows.
- Date and Time: Saturday, December 13, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. ET (Noon).
- Broadcast: ABC (TV), ESPN app/WatchESPN (streaming). Radio: SC State Bulldog Network and PVAMU Panther Sports Network.
| Condition | Kickoff (Noon ET) | End (3 p.m. ET) |
| Temperature | 59°F | 50°F |
| Sky | Partly Cloudy | Cloudy |
| Wind | 5 mph N | 4 mph N |
| Precip. Chance | 12% | 10% |
Injury Report
Both teams report minimal injuries entering bowl week, with full participation in Atlanta practices. South Carolina State’s depth took hits early but stabilized; Prairie View A&M navigated QB rotations midseason without long-term losses. Updates as of December 11, 2025—no game-time scratches anticipated.
South Carolina State Bulldogs (9-3)
| Player | Position | Status | Injury | Notes |
| Ryan Stubblefield | QB | Probable | Shoulder | Backup QB; full practice after minor tweak vs. NCCU. |
| Kacy Fields | RB | Questionable | Ankle | Complementary rusher; limited snaps last two games. |
| Deyandre Ruffin | WR | Probable | Hamstring | Slot receiver; cleared for full workload. |
| Jarod Washington | CB | Probable | Knee | All-MEAC corner; rotational role if needed. |
Prairie View A&M Panthers (10-3)
| Player | Position | Status | Injury | Notes |
| Tevin Carter | QB | Probable | Elbow | Backup; managed midseason soreness, no limitations. |
| Lamagea McDowell | RB | Questionable | Foot | Depth back; monitored after SWAC title tweaks. |
| Travon Jones | TE | Probable | Wrist | Key blocker; taped but active in drills. |
| Eric Zachery | DB | Probable | Shoulder | Secondary depth; full go after early-season issue. |
Key Player Matchups
Defenses dominate this preview—SC State’s turnover-forcing unit (8 INTs in 5 MEAC games) vs. PVAMU’s pass defense (No. 1 FCS, 128.7 ypg allowed). Offenses rank top-20 in efficiency, but clock control will limit possessions.
- SC State QB William Atkins IV vs. PVAMU DB Travor Randle: Atkins (2,000+ total yds, 16 pass TDs, 4 INTs) orchestrates a balanced attack (31.8 PPG). All-SWAC Randle (4 INTs) locks down WRs; Atkins must exploit underneath routes against PV’s zone (top-5 red-zone D).
- PVAMU QB Cameron Peters vs. SC State LB J. Franklin: SWAC Offensive MVP Peters (2,367 pass yds, 17 TDs; 300+ rush yds) shredded Jackson State for 394 yds in the title game. Franklin (team-high 90+ tackles) leads SC State’s front seven (top-15 rush D); disrupting Peters’ pocket (2 sacks allowed/gm) forces checkdowns.
- PVAMU RB Chase Bingmon vs. SC State DL Michael Lunz II: Freshman of the Year Bingmon (880 rush yds, 10 TDs) powers PV’s ground game (202.8 ypg). Lunz (15.5 TFL, 8.5 sacks) anchors the edge—SC State allows 3.9 ypc but yielded 150+ vs. power runs.
- SC State WR Jordan Smith vs. PVAMU Secondary (led by Eric Zachery): Smith (team-high 60+ rec, 800+ yds) stretches fields vertically. Zachery (3 INTs) headlines a unit allowing 5.3 ypa; Smith’s YAC ability tests PV’s tackling (top-10 forced fumbles).
Matchups favor PVAMU’s secondary, but SC State’s experience (3rd Celebration Bowl) could yield big plays.
Team Records and Recent Form
South Carolina State repeats as MEAC champs with an undefeated conference slate, while Prairie View A&M claims its first SWAC crown since 2009 amid a late surge. Both eye HBCU immortality.
| Team | Record | Conf. Record | Streak | Bowl Berth |
| South Carolina State Bulldogs | 9-3 | 5-0 | W7 | Celebration Bowl (MEAC Champs) |
| Prairie View A&M Panthers | 10-3 | 7-1 | W4 | Celebration Bowl (SWAC Champs) |
Recent Form (Last 5 Games)
- South Carolina State: 5-0. Dominant MEAC run: Wins over Delaware State (28-17), North Carolina Central (34-27), Howard (42-12), Morgan State (36-30 OT), and Norfolk State (51-20). Offense averaged 38.2 PPG; defense forced 10 TOs. Earlier non-con losses (e.g., 31-24 at Charleston Southern) exposed road vulnerabilities.
- Prairie View A&M: 4-1. Title-clinching 23-21 thriller over Jackson State capped wins vs. Mississippi Valley State (59-6), Arkansas-Pine Bluff (56-9), and Alabama A&M (48-5). Lone blemish: 31-28 home loss to Alabama State. Defense allowed 10.8 PPG last 5; Peters threw for 300+ yds in 3 wins.
PVAMU’s momentum edges SC State’s streak, but Bulldogs’ MEAC dominance shines.
Series History
This marks the first-ever meeting between the programs—no prior head-to-head in football. Broader MEAC-SWAC bowls favor the MEAC 6-3 all-time in Celebration Bowl history. Games average 48.6 total points, with overs hitting 5 of 10.
| All-Time Record | SC State Wins | PVAMU Wins | Ties | Last 5 (N/A) |
| 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A |
Notable: SC State’s 31-10 upset of Jackson State (2021); PVAMU’s last national title (1964, pre-Celebration era). First-timers 3-2 SU in bowl history.
Betting Trends
Public leans SC State (58% bets, 62% handle) due to experience, but sharps back PVAMU (52% handle on dog) and the Under (60% bets). Celebration Bowl unders hit 6-4 last 10; SC State 6-3-1 ATS in wins; PVAMU 7-3 ATS as underdog. Champs 5-3 SU in bowls.
| Trend | SC State | PVAMU | Notes |
| ATS Record | 7-5 | 9-3-1 | PVAMU 7-3 ATS as dog |
| O/U Record | 6-6 | 7-6-1 | Under in 6/10 Celebration Bowls |
| Public % (Spread) | 58% bets | 42% bets | SC State handle 62% |
| Public % (Total) | 40% O | 60% U | Sharp money on Under 48.5 |
Game Odds
South Carolina State Bulldogs – 1.5
Prairie View A&M Panthers 48.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, December 12, 2025
