Recapping the 2022 HBCU football season

North Carolina Central defeated Jackson State 41-34 in overtime to win the 2022 Celebration Bowl. The win is North Carolina Central's first Celebration Bowl title. North Carolina Central's win is the MEAC's fifth straight win in the Celebration Bowl; the conference is now 6-1 in the bowl game.

Celebration Bowl Offensive MVP Davius Richard and Defensive MVP Khalil Baker caught up with NCAA Digital's Stan Becton to talk about winning the first Celebration Bowl in North Carolina Central history. See the interview below.

NC Central's Davius Richard and Khalil Baker break down winning school's first Celebration Bowl

Click or tap here to see how NCCU won from start to finish.

North Carolina Central stops Jackson State on the 1 yard line and wins 41-34 in Overtime! The Eagles are your 2022 Cricket Celebration Bowl champions!

— Cricket Celebration Bowl (@CelebrationBowl)

Below you can find an updated Celebration Bowl history.

Earlier in 2022, NCAA Digital's Stan Becton highlighted the FCS HBCU football coaches with professional football experience and their impact. Now, it's time to look at those coaches and how they performed on the field in the 2022 season.

Click or tap here to find out how they did

Jackson State named T.C. Taylor has been named the 22nd head coach. Taylor played  quarterback and wide receiver at Jackson State and has been on the football program's staff since 2019.

Great T.C. Taylor Named Head Football Coach

— Jackson State Athletics (@GoJSUTigers)

A select group of HBCU football players stood out among their peers, thanks to on-field performances. Here are the top players, by position, from the 2022 HBCU football season. In total, there are 29 players.

Some notable names on the list include:

• QB - Shedeur Sanders | Jackson State
• WR - Xavier Smith | Florida A&M
• OL - Mark Evans | Arkansas-Pine Bluff
• LB - BJ Davis | South Carolina State

Click or tap here to view the complete list

The MEAC announced its Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year winners during the 64th annual National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Football Hall of Fame Press Conference. North Carolina Central swept the awards, with quarterback Davius Richard and defensive back Khalil Baker taking home the honors. It's the first time since 2005 that the MEAC’s Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year have come from the same school.

Seven HBCU players from five schools finished as finalists for the Walter Payton and Buck Buchanan Awards. See where they finished below

Walter Payton Award

• Sixth | Shedeur Sanders, QB, Jackson State (45 points)
• Tied for 20th | Bhayshul Tuten, RB, North Carolina A&T (4 points)
• Tied for 20th | Xavier Smith, WR, Florida A&M (4 points)
• Tied for 23th | Davius Richard, QB, North Carolina Central (2 points)

Buck Buchanan Award

• Tied for eighth | Aubrey Miller Jr., LB, Jackson State (27 points)
• 14th | BJ Davis, LB, South Carolina State: 2-1-0-1-2-18
• Tied for 23th | Khalil Baker, DB, North Carolina Central: 0-0-0-1-2-4

Click or tap here for every finalist for the awards.

The 2022 Celebration Bowl is set as Jackson State will face off against North Carolina Central on Dec. 17. Jackson State is representing the SWAC for the second straight year while North Carolina Central is representing the MEAC for the first time since 2016.

Click or tap here for more on this year's Celebration Bowl.

Jackson State is the 2022 SWAC Champion after winning back-to-back titles. The Tigers defeated Southern 43-24 in the second matchup between the schools this year. With the win, Jackson State continues its best season is school history, moving to 12-0. The Tigers will represent the SWAC in the 2022 Celebration Bowl.

SHEDEUR SANDERS COULDN'T STOP THROWIN TDS 🎯

— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB)

 The SWAC has announced its postseason honors for the 2022 season. Find them below.

Players/Coach of the Year

• Newcomer of the Year: Jarveon Howard | Alcorn State
• Freshman of the Year: WR Kevin Coleman | Jackson State
• Coach of the Year: Deion Sanders | Jackson State
• Offensive Player of the Year: QB Shedeur Sanders | Jackson State
• Defensive Player of the Year: LB Aubrey Miller Jr. | Jackson STate

First Team All-SWAC

Below you can find the First Team All-SWAC selections.

Other notable All-SWAC selections

Here are some other notable All-SWAC selections.

• 2nd | QB Jeremy Moussa | Florida A&M
• 2nd | RB Kayvon Britten | Arkansas-Pine Bluff
• 2nd | WR Shane Hooks | Jackson State
• 2nd | DL Sundiata Anderson | Grambling State 
• 2nd | LB Isaiah Major | Florida A&M

Bethune-Cookman has fired head coach Terry Sims. Sims finished with a 38-39 overall record and was named MEAC Coach of the Year in 2015. 

Bethune-Cookman the third FCS HBCU to fire its football coach, joining Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Delaware State.