The Celebration Bowl put an exclamation on an already terrific HBCU football season. With a number to help accentuate each spotlight, here are some of the best 2025 storylines.
The 2024 season was so good for HBCU football that it may have left trepidation about how good 2025 could be with the 21 programs in the FCS.
After watching the names on the back of the jerseys change, new coaches take over programs and different teams rise, it’s easy to say the 2025 season was another one for the history books.
Let’s look at some of the numbers that shaped the best storylines in HBCU football.
3.2%: Halftime Probability of SCSU Winning the Celebration Bowl
South Carolina State trailed Prairie View A&M 21-0 at halftime of the Cricket Celebration Bowl, and at that point, the ESPN FPI gave the Bulldogs a 3.2% chance to win the game. Many who cover the FCS and HBCU football were already writing the Bulldogs’ obituary on social media.
Then, after a three-and-out punt by SCSU to start the second half, the third quarter went as follows: PVAMU fumble, SCSU touchdown, PVAMU punt, SCSU touchdown, PVAMU punt, SCSU touchdown, PVAMU touchdown. By the start of the fourth, what once appeared to be a runaway performance for the Panthers had become a shootout.
The game would go on to be the greatest game in the Celebration Bowl’s 10-year history: A 40-38, four-overtime affair that featured everything to believe could happen in a football game. At the end, the Bulldogs hoisted the trophy under the falling confetti.
.780: SCSU Coach Chennis Berry’s Career Win Percentage
In his five seasons as a head coach, including the last two at South Carolina State, Berry has a 46-13 record with four conference titles – an astounding feat for someone who spent 24 years as an assistant at various HBCU programs before getting his first head coaching opportunity.
He was well prepared and had a vision, showing consistency as he moved from Division II Benedict (27-7, .794) to South Carolina State (19-6, .760).
He’s not lost a MEAC game at SCSU, going 5-0 in 2024 before repeating it this season. And, yes, add in the HBCU football national championship following the Celebration Bowl win.
11: Offensive Categories Alabama State Led the SWAC in Behind QB Andrew Body
Body was so good this season, the redshirt junior quarterback earned the Stats Perform HBCU National Player of the Year Award despite playing in only eight games due to injury.
He helped the Hornets reach their first 10-win season in 21 years, and to conference highs in third down conversion% (51.8), completion% (69.6), passing efficiency (194.1), points per game (42.4), passing yards per game (248.8), yards per completion (15.5), yards per attempt (10.8), fewest passes intercepted (3), red zone offense (91.4%; 53 of 58), red zone scores (53) and red zone touchdowns (43).
Individually, Body led the SWAC in points responsible for per game (18.0) and pass efficiency (203.6), and ranked second in completion% (70.5) and TD passes (20). Also named SWAC offensive player of the year, he passed for 312 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 119 yards and another TD while earning national offensive player of the week in a tight, season-opening loss at UAB.
12: Number of Sacks for NCCU Edge Thomas Johnson
Johnson was an absolute terror in the MEAC this season. North Carolina Central’s edge rusher had 12 sacks to top the conference and all HBCU FCS programs, and the total also tied for the fourth most nationally.
The 6-foot-3, 255-pound disruptive force, an All-MEAC first-team selection, helped anchor a defense that totaled 45 sacks in 12 games – a 3.75 per-game average that led the FCS. He finished with 49 tackles and 18 tackles for loss to accompany his impressive sack total.
71: Quincy Ivory’s Tackle Total in His First Season With Jackson State
Ivory actually started his collegiate career as a quarterback at Mississippi Valley State, and he completed a pass against Jackson State during the spring 2021 season. He eventually made his way to playing for the Tigers.
His road to Jackson State not only included a position change to defensive end, but a stint at East Louisiana Community College and the University of Florida. Then in 2025, Ivory made the All-SWAC first team and the Stats Perform FCS All-America second team, totaling 71 tackles, 14 TFL and six sacks in a major breakout.
7: Difference in Delaware State’s Wins From 2024 to 2025
When Delaware State announced DeSean Jackson as its new head coach, there was a lot of skepticism about what he could accomplish with a struggling HBCU football program which was coming off consecutive one-win seasons.
He put an end to those concerns. Ironically, in his first season, the former superstar NFL wide receiver cultivated the best rushing attack in the FCS because the Hornets lead all 129 teams with 3,480 yards, 290.0 yards per game and 6.5 yards per carry. Additionally, their 38 rushing touchdowns are topped by only four teams.
Jackson finished fourth in the Eddie Robinson Award voting for the FCS Coach of the Year.
2: Mississippi Valley State’s FCS Wins the Past Two Seasons (Sorry, FAMU)
It’s been difficult for MVSU to find success. Over the last two seasons, the Delta Devils have three wins, and one was against Lincoln University (CA), an independent, traveling program which is not scheduled to play in 2026.
The other two wins have come against Florida A&M. In 2024, the Delta Devils shocked the then-reigning SWAC champion 24-21 in Tallahassee. It was so much fun, they went out and did it again this season, winning 35-31 at MVSU.
Both upsets surely contributed to FAMU firing coach James Colzie III after only two seasons.
Top photo, from left, via Jackson State, Delaware State, Alabama State and South Carolina State Athletics. For more FCS coverage, follow on X, Facebook, Instagram and Bluesky.
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