On the same day that Army and Navy engage in their annual rivalry game and the Heisman Trophy is presented, there lies another significant event on the college football calendar. One of the most prominent games annually at the FCS level is set to take place this Saturday when Jackson State and South Carolina State face off in the highly anticipated Celebration Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Under the leadership of coach T.C. Taylor, the Tigers have crafted a stellar 2024 season. After taking over the program in December 2022 following Deion Sanders' departure for Colorado, Jackson State has amassed a record of 11-2. One of their losses came against an FBS opponent, Louisiana-Monroe. With Irv Mulligan, one of the top running backs at the FCS level, the Tigers have been on a roll in recent weeks, averaging 39.7 points per game during their nine-game win streak to conclude the regular season.

TC Taylor's Leadership and Jackson State's Success

The Bulldogs, on the other hand, enter this matchup with a 9-2 record. Similar to Jackson State, one of their losses was to an FBS program, in their case, Georgia Southern. After a 1-2 start, South Carolina State and first-year head coach Chennis Berry have rattled off eight consecutive victories. Six of these victories were decided by at least 20 points. Bulldogs players have made a significant impact, with 12 of them earning spots on the all-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference first team.

History and Significance of the Celebration Bowl

The Celebration Bowl is an annual game that pits the champions of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) and the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), two FCS conferences composed entirely of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). This year, Jackson State represents the SWAC, while South Carolina State is the MEAC champion. The game, with a stated mission to "celebrate the heritage, legacy, pageantry and tradition" of HBCUs, is regarded as the de facto national championship of Black college football. Except for 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Celebration Bowl has been played every year since its inception in 2015, with all games taking place in Atlanta. It was first announced in March 2015 at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, just a short walk from Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The game, organized by ESPN Events, is a successor to previous events that crowned the Black college national champion. From 1991-99, the Heritage Bowl also featured teams from the SWAC and MEAC, though it rarely included the champions of both conferences. The final seven of nine Heritage Bowls were played in Atlanta, with Hampton's 24-3 victory against Southern in December 1999 marking the last time the game was held. Prior to that, there was the Pelican Bowl, held three times in the 1970s, and the Orange Blossom Classic, which would match Florida A&M against another top HBCU program at the end of the season, with the winner often being considered the Black national champion. The Orange Blossom Classic returned in 2021 and is now held at the beginning of the season. Due to the Celebration Bowl's traditional date in mid-December, neither the SWAC nor the MEAC can send its champion to the FCS playoffs, which typically begin in late November. However, the participants get the opportunity to play in one of the biggest games in their sport. The game is extremely popular, with each of the past three Celebration Bowls attracting crowds of at least 40,000, including last season's announced attendance of 41,108 for Florida A&M's victory against Howard. HBCU football has a rich history of elite teams and players. Despite the integration of football programs in the south, particularly in the SEC, depriving HBCUs of some of the most talented players from their home regions in recent decades, a total of 27 Pro Football Hall of Famers have played in the SWAC or MEAC. This includes legends like Jerry Rice (Mississippi Valley State), Walter Payton (Jackson State), Michael Strahan (Texas Southern), Shannon Sharpe (Savannah State), Deacon Jones (South Carolina State and Mississippi Valley State), Harry Carson (South Carolina State), John Stallworth (Alabama A&M), and Art Shell (Maryland Eastern Shore).

Previous Celebration Bowl Winners

The MEAC champion has emerged victorious in six of the eight Celebration Bowls. North Carolina A&T has been the most frequent winner, with four victories in four appearances. Here is a look at past Celebration Bowl results, dating back to the first game in 2015:2015: North Carolina A&T 41, Alcorn State 342016: Grambling State 10, North Carolina Central 92017: North Carolina A&T 21, Grambling State 142018: North Carolina A&T 24, Alcorn State 222019: North Carolina A&T 64, Alcorn State 442021: South Carolina State 31, Jackson State 102022: North Carolina Central 41, Jackson State 342023: Florida A&M 30, Howard 26

How to Watch the Celebration Bowl Today

TV channel: ABCLivestream: ESPN App | ESPN+ | FuboThe 2024 Celebration Bowl between South Carolina State and Jackson State will be aired on ABC. Tiffany Greene (play-by-play) and Jay Walker (analyst) will provide the play-by-play and analysis, while Quint Kessenich will serve as the sideline reporter. Streaming options for the game include the ESPN App, ESPN+, and Fubo.Watch the Celebration Bowl live with FuboDate: Saturday, December 14Start time: Noon ETThe 2024 Celebration Bowl is scheduled to kick off at noon ET on Saturday, Dec. 14 from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn't influence our coverage.