ESPN calls their shot on 2026 Celebration Bowl matchup

ESPN projected all the playoff and bowl games happening at the end of 2026 and weighed in on the potential Celebration Bowl matchup. Kyle Bonagura and Mark Schlabach produced the projections, and both believe this year’s Celebration Bowl will be a rematch of last year.

Last year’s Celebration Bowl matchup was historic, as South Carolina State made their third trip to the game, in their second straight trip following their loss to Jackson State in the 2024 Celebration Bowl. The Bulldogs swept conference play once again, including a thrilling victory over DeSean Jackson and Delaware State that acted as the de facto MEAC championship game.

Meanwhile, Prairie View A&M succeeded mightily under Tremaine Jackson’s first year at the helm of the program. Jackson joined the Panthers after a stint at Valdosta State, where he led the Blazers to the 2024 Division Two National Championship. He quickly turned Prairie View A&M into a championship contender in his own right, winning the SWAC West Divisional crown before pulling off an upset victory over reigning SWAC champion Jackson State in the 2025 SWAC Championship.

When the two programs clashed, they produced one of the most memorable Celebration Bowls in history and a ball game that caught the attention of the football world. Prairie View had a dominant lead in the first half of the game before South Carolina State made a tremendous comeback to ultimately win the game 40-38. It clinched Chennis Berry’s first Celebration Bowl victory in his tenure with South Carolina State

Now, Bonagura and Schlabach believe that the two teams are on a collision course again for a shot at the title that the HBCU community will surely be anticipating.

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