The Celebration Bowl sets up as an old-school defensive grinder wrapped in two very different offensive identities, with coaching storylines all over the place.
This is the 10th Celebration Bowl and a first-ever meeting between MEAC champ South Carolina State and SWAC champ Prairie View A&M on Saturday at noon on ABC.
The Bulldogs got here at 9–3 after winning a second straight MEAC title, while Prairie View rode a defense-and-run-game formula through the SWAC under first-year Panthers head coach Tremaine Jackson.
Coaching chess match
Chennis Berry has quietly rebuilt South Carolina State into a modern, explosive MEAC offense without losing the Bulldogs’ defensive DNA.
Berry’s group has had about three weeks to scheme up wrinkles for this game, which usually means scripted drives, tempo changes, and creative route combinations early to test matchups.
On the other sideline, Jackson arrives in Atlanta with the energy of a coach fresh off quickly transforming Prairie View with a tough, defense-first identity to the brink of a national championship.
QBs vs. turnover-hunting defenses
The most obvious matchup is Billy Atkins IV vs. Prairie View’s secondary, and Cam Peters vs. South Carolina State’s back seven.
Atkins brings an explosive passing element but has thrown multiple interceptions in MEAC play, while Prairie View’s defense has eight picks in nine league games and thrives on tightening up in the red zone.
On the flip side, Peters is a true dual-threat who accounted for over 350 yards in the SWAC title game in what was an MVP performance, but he’s also been inconsistent at times as well.
PV run game vs. SCSU front seven
Prairie View’s identity starts with its “plus-one” run game that was among the best in the FCS at 202.3 yards per game: running back Chase Bingmon paired with Peters as a designed runner stresses edges and conflicts linebackers.
They’ve averaged over 33 points per game this season largely because that ground game stays on schedule and sets up play-action shots.
That runs headlong into a South Carolina State front that has to be better than its season number of nearly five yards allowed per carry to win in Atlanta. Edge players like Josh Barker, Ka’Von Chisolm, and Kwantre Harry have been highlighted as keys to creating havoc in the backfield.
Atkins and wideouts vs. Panthers secondary
South Carolina State has been defined this year by its explosive passing game, and Atkins is comfortable pushing the ball downfield to a deep receiver room. This is where the Bulldogs can separate if they consistently win one-on-ones outside and hit a few chunk plays against a defense that would rather keep everything in front.
Prairie View’s defense, though, is built on making you drive the field, leaning on red-zone stops and forcing you to string together double-digit play drives.
This will likely decide the game
The Panthers converted nine third-down opportunities versus Jackson State, including a game-clinching first-down run by Peters with his legs late in the fourth quarter.
Flip it around, and SCSU’s explosive style has to translate into 37 red-zone scores, not just empty trips inside the 20. That’s not easy against a Prairie View defense that has only allowed 23 red zone scoring trips all season.
Who wins?
South Carolina State — riding experience from last season’s appearance in the big game — wins a tight, low-scoring 2025 Celebration Bowl, leaning on its defense and just enough plays from its opportunistic offense to edge Prairie View.
