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The adage ‘third’s time the charm’ reigns supreme for the Jackson State University (JSU) Tigers. The 2024 Cricket Celebration Bowl was their third attempt to bring the HBCU National Championship home and they defeated the South Carolina State University (SCSU) Bulldogs, 28-7. The game welcomed more than 36,000 fans to Mercedes-Benz Stadium and 2.1M+ viewers tuned into ESPN.  

This highly anticipated rematch goes all the way back to the 2021 Cricket Celebration Bowl when SCSU defeated JSU. Besides bragging rights until next year, the winning title comes with a million-dollar donation to the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC).  

We kicked off the week by connecting a couple of the Cricket HBCU Campus Ambassadors to Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta (BGCMA) teen members. Hosted at Harland Boys & Girls Club, the College 101 panel discussion provided an inside scoop of transitioning into adulthood. We extended 300 tickets to BGCMA youth to experience the spectacle of an HBCU gameday.  



All 14 of the Cricket HBCU Campus Ambassadors came down for a robust weekend starting at Cricket Headquarters. They learned firsthand the role they play within the marketing team and networked with employees. Get a glimpse of all the fun in this Instagram post.  



 

Cricket also sponsored the second annual Band of the Year competition. A special congratulations to “The Marching 100” of Florida A&M University and the “Purple Marching Machine” of Miles College who earned the Division I and II titles respectively. This year, Band of the Year welcomed high school bands on the national stage. Two metro Atlanta high schools came prepared to showcase their soulful sounds but ultimately Jonesboro High School won.  

A special congratulations to all winners! We look forward to kicking off the 2025 college football season at the MEAC/SWAC Challenge Kickoff.