Two programs on sharply rising trajectories will collide for the first time Saturday when South Carolina State and Prairie View A&M meet in the 10th Celebration Bowl, a stage that has increasingly doubled as the de facto HBCU national championship.
For South Carolina State, the trip to Mercedes-Benz Stadium is familiar. For Prairie View A&M, it marks a breakthrough moment years in the making. And for both, it represents an opportunity to punctuate a transformative season.
South Carolina State (9-3) returns to Atlanta for the second straight year, but almost everything else looks different. After losing much of last year’s production to graduation and the transfer portal, head coach Chennis Berry reshaped his roster on the fly and still delivered a second consecutive MEAC championship. The Bulldogs enter with three weeks of preparation and an offense that has evolved into the league’s top passing unit, complemented by a defense that thrives on takeaways.
Across the field, Prairie View A&M (10-3) arrives with the urgency of a team still catching its breath. First-year coach Tremaine Jackson guided the Panthers to their first SWAC crown since 2009 just last weekend, edging defending champion Jackson State on the road. Their rapid turnaround under Jackson — who previously built a winner at the Division II level — has been one of the SWAC’s biggest storylines, powered by a balanced offense and a line that has surrendered only eight sacks all season.
The unfamiliarity between the programs adds intrigue. With no history to lean on, Saturday’s matchup requires heavy film study as both staffs parse strengths that mirror each other in places and sharply diverge in others. South Carolina State boasts the MEAC’s most efficient passing attack and the conference’s stingiest turnover numbers, while Prairie View A&M counters with a multi-dimensional offense that ranks near the top of the SWAC both through the air and on the ground.
Playmakers on both sides should command attention. Bulldogs quarterback William Atkins IV and All-MEAC receiver Jordan Smith lead an offense that converts nearly half of its third downs. On defense, end Michael Lunz II anchors a front that has fueled South Carolina State’s 14-interception season. Prairie View A&M brings its own star power, including 1,000-yard wideout Jyzaiah Rockwell, freshman standout running back Chase Bingmon and All-SWAC safety Travor Randle.
The stakes need no embellishment. With the MEAC having won six of the previous nine Celebration Bowls — and the SWAC holding momentum from last season’s triumph — Saturday offers another referendum on conference supremacy.
2025 Celebration Bowl
South Carolina State (9-3) vs. Prairie View A&M (10-3)
Noon ET, Mercedes-Benz Stadium (ABC)
Series: First meeting
About the Author
Dalton Tinklenberg is the Founder and Media Director of The Scouting Depot, where he leads comprehensive coverage of college and professional football. He is an active member of some of the most respected organizations in sports journalism, including the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA), Maxwell Football Club, Online News Association (ONA), National Football Foundation (NFF), and the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE).
Before launching The Scouting Depot, Dalton worked with Blue HQ Media, where he covered major sporting events such as the Indianapolis 500, the College Football Playoff, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
Through his professional affiliations and on-the-ground experience, Dalton combines deep knowledge of the game with recognized standards of storytelling, editorial excellence, and authenticity in sports coverage.
