South Carolina State University is eligible for the 2024 Cricket Celebration Bowl for the second time

The 2024 Cricket Celebration Bowl, to be played Saturday, December 14 at noon ET at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta and broadcast live on ABC, has identified its first participant as Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) college football champion South Carolina State Bulldogs , (8-3, 4-0 MEAC) defeated rival Morgan State University 54-7 on Saturday to earn their second bowl invitation in program history. They will play the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) champion.

Congratulations to MEAC champion South Carolina State University for earning their second trip to the Cricket Celebration Bowl, according to executive directorJohn Grantwho will present the official invitation to head coach Chennis Berry in Orangeburg, SC during their final home game against Norfolk State. We are excited to have the Bulldogs make a second appearance and join us in this championship game.

South Carolina States regular season game wins over 2022 Cricket Celebration Bowl champion, North Carolina Central Eagles and Morgan State Bears have secured their way to this year's championship bowl game.

Now in its ninth year, the Cricket Celebration Bowl has established itself as a premier college football bowl game, celebrating the heritage, legacy, pageantry and tradition of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The championship-style match between the MEAC and SWAC champions will be televised nationally on ABC. ESPN Events is working with its sponsors, Divine Nine Greek organizations, the Atlanta HBCU Alumni Alliance and other community partners to host the game's additional events, including a fan experience, community service projects and more. This year's weekend festivities also include the second annual National Band of the Year Championship.

North Carolina A&T won the first Celebration Bowl game in 2015. In 2023, the Celebration Bowl had the third-highest attendance in game history at 41,108 and drew a television audience of more than 1.5 million viewers on ABC.

Celebration Bowl games (2015–present):

Fans can purchase tickets to the Cricket Celebration Bowl online at thecelebrationbowl.com or ticketmaster.com. Prices range from $35 to $285 before taxes and fees. A full list of events surrounding the game is available on theevent website.

For MEAC fans, a special rate is offered at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis, available December 15-17. Please visit theCelebration Bowl websitefor more information.

For SWAC fans, a special rate is offered at the Hilton Atlanta, available December 15-17. Please visit theCelebration Bowl websitefor more information.

Additional hotel rooms are available at the Holiday Inn Express and Suites Atlanta Downtown and Spring Hill Suites. Please visit theCelebration Bowl websitefor more information.

ESPN Events
ESPN Eventsa division of ESPN, owns and operates a portfolio of collegiate sporting events across the country. In 2024, the 34-event schedule will include four early-season college football kickoff games, 17 college bowl games, 10 college basketball events, the first regular-season college softball and gymnastics events, as well as the National Band Championship of the Year. Collectively, these events represent more than 400 hours of live programming on ESPN platforms, reach 60 million viewers and attract more than 650,000 attendees annually. Each year, the event portfolio includes more than 20 Division I conferences and more than 4,000 participating student-athletes. With satellite offices in more than 10 cities across the country, ESPN Events builds relationships with conferences, schools and local communities, while also providing unique experiences for teams and fans. Follow ESPN events Facebook, Twitter/X And YouTube.

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Media contacts:
Michelle Jinks, Celebration Bowl 704-856-9320 or [email protected]
Danny Chi, ESPN [email protected]