We are SWAC: Prairie View will represent us in Atlanta
By Dr. Anne T. Sulton, Esq.
JA Senior International Correspondent
Southwestern Athletic Conference’s (SWAC) representatives for the 2025 HBCU Football National Championship at the Celebration Bowl in Atlanta, GA will be Prairie View A&M University’s football team, marching band, dancers, and cheerleaders.
The 2025 Celebration Bowl is important. Tens of thousands of fans from across the nation will travel to the Mercedes Benz stadium. This event will be nationally televised by ESPN and covered by other media outlets, presenting another opportunity to showcase the excellence and relevance of HBCUs internationally. Information about these HBCU schools’ history and academic offerings also will be shared. In previous years, millions worldwide have viewed Celebration Bowl events.
Prairie View A&M University (PV) earned the right to represent all SWAC schools at this HBCU Football National Championship game against Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference’s (MEAC) representative South Carolina State University (SCSU).
Earning the right to represent SWAC schools at the Celebration Bowl was not easy.
In 2025, like Jackson State University (JSU), PV had won at least nine football games. However, to represent SWAC schools in Atlanta at the Celebration Bowl, PV had to prove it could surpass JSU’s performance. After all, JSU had won for SWAC the 2024 Celebration Bowl. Essentially, PV had to arrive at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium with, and produce there, its A++ game.
On Saturday, December 6, 2025, before more than 32,000 fans at the stadium in Jackson, and many more thousands watching on national television, PV scored the first and only touchdown during the first quarter. It added a second touchdown during the second quarter. JSU also scored a touchdown in the second quarter.
Among the most thrilling plays during the first half was when PV quarterback Cameron Peters (from Missouri City, TX) launched the football high into the crisp cool air. The football smoothly sailed nearly 40 yards into the waiting hands of tight end Ethan John (from Milwaukee, WI). John then ran nearly another 30 yards before being tackled deep inside the Red Zone near the 5-yard line.
The third quarter was the most exciting. The teams traded touchdowns.
Each time the little baby JSU Tigers jumped with glee along the sidelines as the big Tigers football players scored a touchdown, the PV Panthers football team came roaring back. PV Panthers fans too were enthusiastically cheering: “We want to represent SWAC in Atlanta!”
JSU Tigers were hoping to return to the Celebration Bowl as SWAC’s representative. It would have been JSU Tigers’ third visit to the Mercedes-Benz Stadium to meet the SCSU Bulldogs. JSU lost in 2021, but won in 2024.
In the closing moments of this SWAC Championship game, PV proved its A++ game was sufficient to represent us and all other SWAC members in Atlanta. The final score was PV 23 and JSU 21.
It won’t be easy for SWAC to win the contest this year. MEAC is sending again SCSU to represent it at the Celebration Bowl.
SCSU has a powerhouse football program. It is MEAC’s champion for 2024 and 2025.
The HBCU Football National Championship promises to be a wonderful family-oriented event. PV and SCSU football teams, marching bands, dancers, cheerleaders, fans, and stories of their excellence and relevance will be on full display for the world to witness. And because of this, all HBCUs benefit.
Go PV and bring home to SWAC the national trophy!!!
Travel well.
