From Backup to Battlefield Commander
While the SWAC has been consumed by coaching carousel chaos and headlines about who's in and who's out, a quiet revolution has been happening in Orangeburg, South Carolina. Billy Atkins, a transfer quarterback who spent four years warming the bench at James Madison, has transformed into the MEAC's most dangerous weapon. Now, with the 2025 Cricket Celebration Bowl set for December 13 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Atkins stands on the brink of cementing his legacy as one of the great redemption stories in HBCU football history.
This isn't just another bowl game. This is the Super Bowl of Black College Football, where the MEAC champion South Carolina State Bulldogs (9-3, 5-0 MEAC) will face the SWAC champion Prairie View A&M Panthers (10-3, 7-1 SWAC) for the ultimate prize: the HBCU National Championship.
The Journey: From JMU Backup to MEAC Champion
Billy Atkins' story reads like a screenplay. After four seasons as a backup at James Madison, completing just 45 of 82 passes for 474 yards, five touchdowns, and five interceptions, most quarterbacks would have hung up their cleats. But Atkins saw something different: an opportunity. When he entered the transfer portal in April 2025, he was described as a "longtime JMU backup" who had led the Dukes to their first bowl win in the 2024 Boca Raton Bowl.
That clutch performance caught the eye of South Carolina State head coach Chennis Berry, who was building a championship-caliber roster. Atkins didn't just want playing time. He wanted a chance to prove he belonged among the elite, and SC State gave him that platform.
The results? Absolutely electric.
The Numbers Don't Lie: A Statistical Masterclass
In his first season as the Bulldogs' starting quarterback, Atkins has been nothing short of sensational. According to ESPN's stats, Atkins threw for approximately 2,274 passing yards with 16 touchdowns and just 4 interceptions, posting a 62.3% completion rate and a passer rating of 153.0. Those aren't just good numbers for an HBCU quarterback. Those are elite numbers, period.
But the highlight reel moment came in Week 9 against Norfolk State. Atkins absolutely torched the Spartans' defense for 428 yards and four touchdowns on 24-of-36 passing, with three of those scores coming in a blistering seven-minute second-quarter stretch. The Bulldogs rolled to a 51-20 victory, and Atkins earned Stats Perform HBCU National Player of the Week honors.
That wasn't an outlier. Against Morgan State, he threw for 363 yards and accounted for two total touchdowns. Against North Carolina Central, he carved up the Eagles for 314 yards and three touchdowns. Game after game, Atkins delivered when his team needed him most, leading SC State to a perfect 5-0 MEAC record and their 20th conference championship in program history.
The MEAC's Quarterback Renaissance
Atkins isn't just carrying South Carolina State. He's part of a broader resurgence of elite quarterback play in the MEAC. After years of watching SWAC signal-callers dominate headlines, the MEAC has quietly rebuilt its offensive identity around dynamic passers who can stretch the field and make plays in critical moments.
In 2024, Justin Smith-Brown of South Carolina State posted 908 passing yards with a 75.7% completion rate over 12 games, laying the foundation for what Atkins has now elevated to championship-level production. While the 2025 MEAC season saw more distributed quarterback play across the conference, Atkins emerged as the clear alpha, combining efficiency with explosive playmaking ability.
The offensive support has been stellar too. Jordan Smith led the Bulldogs with 50 receptions for 791 yards and 7 touchdowns, while Jalen Johnson added another 50 catches for 608 yards. With weapons like that and an offensive line that has protected Atkins all season, this SC State offense is firing on all cylinders heading into the biggest game of the year.
Prairie View A&M: The SWAC's Comeback Kings
Standing in Atkins' way is a Prairie View A&M squad that has authored its own redemption story. After finishing 5-7 in 2024, the Panthers roared back in 2025 with a 10-3 record and a 7-1 SWAC mark under first-year head coach Tremaine Jackson.
The Panthers captured the SWAC West Division title and then defeated Jackson State 23-21 in the SWAC Championship Game, earning their first conference title since 2009. Led by a suffocating defense and an offense averaging 31 points per game, Prairie View has been one of the most improved teams in all of FCS football.
This isn't just a good team. This is a hungry team that has been waiting 16 years to reclaim conference supremacy. They're not coming to Atlanta to participate. They're coming to dominate.
The Stakes: MEAC vs SWAC Supremacy
The Celebration Bowl has been contested since 2015, formalizing the longstanding rivalry between the MEAC and SWAC as the premier event in HBCU football. Since 2016, the MEAC has dominated this matchup, with the SWAC claiming just one victory (Grambling's 10-9 win in 2016).
But here's the twist: South Carolina State lost to Jackson State 28-7 in the 2024 Celebration Bowl, a stinging defeat that has fueled this entire season. Atkins and the Bulldogs have been on a mission ever since, riding a seven-game winning streak into this showdown. The hunger for redemption is palpable.
For Prairie View, this is about more than just winning. It's about restoring SWAC pride and proving that the conference's resurgence under new leadership and coaching stability is real. While the SWAC has dealt with significant coaching changes, including new hires at Alabama A&M (Saj Thakkar), Mississippi Valley State (Terrell Buckley), Southern University (Marshall Faulk), and Prairie View itself (Tremaine Jackson), the Panthers have thrived amidst the chaos.
What to Watch: Keys to Victory
For South Carolina State:
- Protect Billy Atkins: The Bulldogs' offensive line must give their quarterback time to operate. When Atkins is clean, he's lethal.
- Exploit the deep ball: With Jordan Smith and Jalen Johnson creating mismatches, SC State needs to take shots downfield early and often.
- Win the turnover battle: Atkins has thrown just 4 interceptions all season. Keep that ball security elite, and the Bulldogs will be tough to beat.
For Prairie View A&M:
- Pressure, pressure, pressure: The Panthers must get after Atkins and force him into uncomfortable throws. A clean pocket equals a long day for the SWAC champs.
- Control the clock: With an offense averaging 31 points per game, Prairie View needs to sustain drives and keep SC State's explosive attack off the field.
- Make a statement: The SWAC has been the underdog in this rivalry for years. A dominant performance would shift the narrative entirely.
The Legacy on the Line
For Billy Atkins, this game represents the culmination of a journey that began in frustration at James Madison and has evolved into something truly special at South Carolina State. He's not just a quarterback anymore. He's a leader, a playmaker, and a symbol of what's possible when you believe in second chances.
Win or lose, Atkins has already proven that his transfer to an HBCU was the right move. But a victory on December 13 would do more than add another championship banner to SC State's storied program. It would validate every decision he made, every snap he took as a backup, every moment he dreamed of leading a team to glory.
Prairie View A&M stands ready to spoil that dream. The SWAC wants its respect back, and the Panthers are the team to deliver it.
One thing is certain: when these two teams take the field at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, we're going to witness something special. The Celebration Bowl has always been about more than just football. It's about culture, pride, and the enduring legacy of HBCUs. And in 2025, Billy Atkins and South Carolina State are writing the next chapter.
Kickoff is set for 12:00 PM ET on Saturday, December 13, 2025. The game will be broadcast on ABC.
Get your popcorn ready. This one's going to be unforgettable.
