In one of the most exhilarating finishes of the 2025 college football season, the South Carolina State Bulldogs overcame a daunting early deficit to defeat the Prairie View A&M Panthers 40-38 in an unforgettable quadruple overtime battle at the 10th annual Celebration Bowl on Saturday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The Celebration Bowl, widely regarded as the de facto Black college football national championship, was a showcase of resilience, skill, and determination from both teams, keeping fans on the edge of their seats from start to finish.
Prairie View A&M jumped out to an early 21-0 lead, leaving South Carolina State in a challenging position. The Panthers appeared poised to cruise to victory, but the Bulldogs, led by quarterback Ryan Stubblefield, mounted a remarkable comeback. Stubblefield’s calm and composed play throughout the game proved pivotal. He threw for 234 yards and two touchdowns, but it was his heroic two-point conversion in the fourth overtime that ultimately sealed the victory for South Carolina State.
Despite the Bulldogs’ rally, Prairie View A&M refused to go down without a fight. The Panthers were led by quarterback Cameron Peters, who had a spectacular performance, throwing for 412 yards and four touchdowns. Peters’ ability to move the ball and keep his team in the game was impressive, but ultimately, his efforts fell short as the Panthers were unable to overcome South Carolina State’s resilience in the overtime periods.
This victory was a momentous achievement for South Carolina State, improving their record to 10-3 on the season and securing the coveted Celebration Bowl trophy in front of a packed and passionate crowd. The thrilling and dramatic finish of this game, with its back-and-forth momentum and intense action, will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the most exciting and heart-stopping matchups in college football history. It capped off a remarkable 2025 season for both teams, further solidifying the Celebration Bowl as one of the premier events in college football.
