Live updates for the 2024 Celebration Bowl: Jackson State vs. South Carolina State

Here are some of the top storylines and players to watch entering this year's Celebration Bowl.

Storylines

• A fresh look at a rematch:
  • Jackson State and South Carolina State met in the 2021 Celebration Bowl. When they meet in 2024, it will be the second rematch in Celebration Bowl history, joining North Carolina A&T-Alcorn State (2015, 2018, 2019).
  • While the game is a rematch, both teams have a completely new look. Neither of the two coaches from 2021 remain and only 22 total players remain from 2021 rosters
    • South Carolina State — 15 players return:
      • K Dyson Roberts, OL Ian Shark, OL Chandler Muller, OL Nick Taiste, OL Cam Johnson, LB Aaron Smith, DE Jared Kirksey and DT Octaveon Minter are the only players from the 2021 Celebration Bowl two-deep.
      • Taiste, Johnson and Minter are the only returning starters.
    • Jackson State — 7 players return:
      • WR Kobe Paul, DB Anthony Petty, RB Desmond Moultrie, DL Jeremiah Williams, DB Frankie Dunn Jr., TE Jency Riley and WR Errick Simmons are the only players from the 2021 team remaining, but none played in the Celebration Bowl. 
• Coaching:
  • Jackson State enters with the 2024 SWAC Coach of the Year T.C. Taylor in his second year at the helm. South Carolina State enters with 2024 MEAC Coach of the Year Chennis Berry in his first year as head coach after moving up from the Division II level.

Players to Watch

Here are some players to watch from Jackson State.

• SWAC Offensive Player of the Year: RB Irv Mulligan
• SWAC Freshman of the Year: RB Travis Terrell Jr.

• 1st Team |RB Irv Mulligan
• 1st Team |OL D'Andre Townes-Blue
• 1st Team |DL Joshua Nobles
• 1st Team |DB Ke'Vric Wiggins Jr.
• 1st Team |RS Travis Terrell Jr.
• 1st Team |LS Avery Salerno
• 2nd Team | QB Jacobian Morgan
• 2nd Team | OL Evan Henry
• 2nd Team | OL Kirk Ford JR.
• 2nd Team | K Gerardo Baeza

All-HBCU: The top HBCU football players, by position, from the 2024 season

Here are some players to watch from South Carolina State.

MEAC Offensive Lineman of the Year: OL Nick Taiste

• 1st Team | QB Eric Phoenix
• 1st Team | WR Caden High
• 1st Team | WR Justin Smith-Brown
• 1st Team | TE Keshawn Toney
• 1st Team | C Eric Brown Jr.
• 1st Team | OL Nick Taiste
• 1st Team | OL Cam Johnson
• 1st Team | DL Jayden Broughton
• 1st Team | DL Ashaad Hall
• 1st Team | LB Aaron Smith
• 1st Team | DB Jarod Washington
• 1st Team | K Kyle Gallegos
• 2nd Team | OL Tray Franklin
• 2nd Team | DL John Hannibal
• 2nd Team | LB Jadin Jones
• 2nd Team | DB Diego Addison
• 2nd Team | P Dyson Roberts

Jackson State was ranked No. 15 and South Carolina State was ranked No. 18 in the FCS Coaches Poll and the Tigers were ranked No. 18 and the Bulldogs No. 20 in the STATS Perform Poll to close the regular season. Here's how the programs stack up based on this season's results.

Celebration Bowl MVP Shaq Davis discusses South Carolina State's victory over Jackson State

Jackson State and South Carolina State last met in the Celebration Bowl in 2021, the first appearance in the game for both. The game was a national coming out party for wide receiver Shaq Davis, who set a Celebration Bowl record with three receiving touchdowns in a 31-10 win. Defensively, South Carolina State shut down Jackson State and the 2021 Jerry Rice Award winner Shedeur Sanders, forcing the rookie sensation to commit three turnovers.

Click or tap here for more from the game

Since 2015, the MEAC and SWAC conference champions face off in a postseason football clash known as the Celebration Bowl. In the Celebration Bowl, two of the premier HBCU football programs in a particular year at the FCS level meet to determine who is the best. Traditionally, the game is in Atlanta, Georgia, a hub for HBCU culture. The Celebration Bowl celebrates great football and HBCU tradition on a national stage.

This year's Celebration Bowl will be at noon ET on Dec. 14, 2024, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.