When the Lights Were Brightest, the Bulldogs Roared Back
Let's get one thing straight: the 2025 Celebration Bowl wasn't just a football game. It was a four-overtime heart attack, a 21-point resurrection, and a controversy-laced coronation all wrapped into one unforgettable Saturday afternoon in Atlanta. South Carolina State walked into Mercedes-Benz Stadium as MEAC champions. They walked out as HBCU national champions, defeating Prairie View A&M 40-38 in what will be remembered as the most dramatic finish in Celebration Bowl history.
Down 21-0 at halftime, the Bulldogs didn't just fight back. They delivered a third-quarter explosion, a fourth-quarter nail-biter, and four overtimes of pure chaos that left fans, coaches, and analysts breathless. And when the dust settled, backup quarterback Ryan Stubblefield stood as the unlikely hero, head coach Chennis Berry had his signature moment, and a controversial two-point conversion call became the talk of HBCU football.
This is the story of how South Carolina State turned despair into destiny.
The Halftime Deficit: A 21-Point Mountain to Climb
If you tuned in at halftime, you might have written off the Bulldogs. Prairie View A&M came out firing, building a commanding 21-0 lead by the break. The Panthers' offense was clicking on all cylinders, racking up 319 yards to South Carolina State's meager 80 in the first half. It looked like the SWAC champions were about to run away with the HBCU crown.
But football, especially HBCU football, is a 60-minute game. And sometimes, it takes a whole lot longer than that.
The Third-Quarter Explosion: Enter Ryan Stubblefield
Whatever Chennis Berry said in that locker room at halftime, it worked. The Bulldogs stormed out of the tunnel with a new energy, a new quarterback, and a new game plan. Ryan Stubblefield, the senior backup from Houston, Texas, replaced starter William Atkins IV and immediately ignited the offense.
South Carolina State scored three touchdowns in the third quarter alone, erasing the entire 21-point deficit and tying the game at 21-21. The Bulldogs' drives were surgical, all under 50 yards, capitalizing on a crucial Prairie View fumble and defensive adjustments that completely stifled the Panthers' momentum.
Stubblefield finished the game completing 15 of 29 passes for 234 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception, while also adding a rushing score. His poise under pressure was the difference-maker. He was named Celebration Bowl MVP, a fitting honor for a player who stepped up when his team needed him most.
Regulation's Final Moments: Tying the Game
The fourth quarter was a back-and-forth slugfest. Prairie View answered with 14 points, but the Bulldogs matched them score for score. With time winding down, South Carolina State engineered a clutch drive capped by a late touchdown and conversion that sent the game to overtime tied at 35-35.
The crowd at Mercedes-Benz Stadium was on its feet. This wasn't just a game anymore. This was history in the making.
Four Overtimes of Madness
If you thought regulation was intense, the overtime periods took it to another stratosphere.
First Overtime: Both teams traded scores, keeping the drama alive. Field goals were exchanged, and the tension mounted with every snap.
Second Overtime: South Carolina State's defense came up huge, forcing a crucial interception that kept the Bulldogs' championship hopes alive. But Prairie View's kicker missed a 38-yard field goal that would have ended it, sending the game into a third overtime.
Third Overtime: Neither team could find the end zone. The defenses, exhausted but relentless, held strong.
Fourth Overtime: This is where it all came down to one play, one moment, one call.
The Controversy: A Two-Point Conversion That Shook the HBCU World
With the game on the line, Ryan Stubblefield dropped back and fired a pass to receiver Jordan Smith for a two-point conversion attempt. The ball appeared to fall just short of the goal line on replays, but officials ruled it good on the field. After a lengthy replay review, the call stood, giving South Carolina State a 40-38 lead.
Prairie View had one chance to answer. Their two-point attempt fell incomplete, and the Bulldogs stormed the field in celebration.
The controversy was immediate. Replays shown on the broadcast suggested the ball may not have crossed the plane, igniting debates across social media and sports talk shows. Prairie View fans felt robbed. South Carolina State fans argued the call was too close to overturn.
But in the end, the scoreboard told the story: South Carolina State 40, Prairie View A&M 38. The Bulldogs were HBCU national champions.
Chennis Berry's Signature Moment
For head coach Chennis Berry, this victory was redemption and validation all at once. Hired in December 2023 after a dominant 27-7 run at Benedict College, Berry became the only coach in South Carolina State history to win a conference championship in his first season in 2024, earning MEAC Coach of the Year honors.
Now, in his second year, he's delivered the ultimate prize: an HBCU national title. Berry's halftime adjustments, particularly the decision to insert Stubblefield, proved to be the turning point. His ability to keep his team composed down 21-0 and rally them through four overtimes speaks volumes about his leadership and coaching acumen.
This is the kind of moment that defines a career.
Prairie View's Heartbreak: A Historic Season Ends in Agony
Let's not overlook what Prairie View A&M accomplished in 2025. The Panthers finished 10-4 overall and 7-1 in SWAC play, claiming the conference championship with a 23-21 victory over Jackson State on December 6. It was their first SWAC title since 2009 and their first-ever Celebration Bowl appearance.
Under first-year head coach Tremaine Jackson, Prairie View was one of the most dominant teams in HBCU football, averaging 31.08 points per game while holding opponents to just 16.15. But in the biggest game of the season, they couldn't hold onto a 21-point lead, and a controversial call cost them a chance at glory.
The Panthers have every reason to hold their heads high. They just ran into a team that refused to quit.
The Stats That Tell the Story
Numbers don't lie, and the stats from this game are jaw-dropping:
- Ryan Stubblefield: 15-of-29 passing, 234 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT, plus 1 rushing TD. Named Celebration Bowl MVP.
- South Carolina State's comeback: 21 unanswered points in the third quarter to erase a 21-0 halftime deficit, the largest comeback in Celebration Bowl history.
- MEAC vs. SWAC: The MEAC extended its all-time Celebration Bowl advantage to 7-3 with the victory.
- Prairie View's season: 10-4 record, first SWAC title since 2009, first Celebration Bowl appearance.
- Four overtimes: The first Celebration Bowl to go beyond regulation, and the first to require four OT periods.
What This Means for HBCU Football
The 2025 Celebration Bowl wasn't just a game. It was a statement. It showed the nation that HBCU football is thrilling, competitive, and worthy of the spotlight. The drama, the stakes, the controversy—this is the kind of game that draws new fans and keeps existing ones glued to their screens.
For South Carolina State, this title cements their place among the elite programs in HBCU football. For Prairie View, it's a reminder that they're knocking on the door of greatness. And for the Celebration Bowl itself, this game will be replayed and debated for years to come.
The Final Word
When the confetti fell at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Ryan Stubblefield stood at midfield with tears in his eyes, holding the HBCU national championship trophy. Chennis Berry embraced his players, knowing he'd just orchestrated one of the greatest comebacks in college football history. And somewhere in the stands, Prairie View fans were left wondering what might have been.
That's the beauty and the brutality of sports. One team's miracle is another team's heartbreak. One controversial call can define a legacy.
But on this day, in this city, South Carolina State proved that no deficit is too large, no moment too big, and no challenge too great. They are the 2025 HBCU national champions, and they earned every single second of this unforgettable victory.
The Miracle in Atlanta is complete. Long live the Bulldogs.
