Celebration Bowl Viewership Climbed in 2021

The 2021 Celebration Bowl's viewers climbed to witness the battle between the South Carolina State Bulldogs and Jackson State Tigers.

Kyle T. Mosley | Dec 21, 2021

The 2021 Celebration Bowl's viewers climbed to witness the battle between the South Carolina State Bulldogs and Jackson State Tigers.

Jackson State head coach Deion Sanders and South Carolina State head coach Oliver Pough shake hands at midfield following the Celebration Bowl in Atlanta, Ga., on Saturday December 18, 2021. Cb47; Credit:© Mickey Welsh / Advertiser / USA TODAY NETWORK

The economic and television power of HBCU football was strong this season and it was evident in the HBCU football season finale at the 2021 Cricket Celebration Bowl on Dec. 18.

According to Showbuzzdaily.com, the game attracted 2.587 million viewers and accounted for a household rating of 1.61 on Saturday afternoon.

The Celebration Bowl viewership climbed from 1.805 million in 2019 and 2.3 viewers in 2018, per Sam Herder of Hero Sports. Alcorn State and North Carolina A& T played in both contests. The 2021 game became the best broadcast in the history of the event.

Utah State and Oregon State played in a primetime event — the Jimmy Kimmel Louisiana Bowl — and had 2.892 million viewers with a 1.72 household rating.

Celebration Bowl website forecasted the game to have a $21.7 million economic impact, per the Atlanta Convention and Visitor's Bureau. The final figures from this year's Celebration Bowl have not been released to the public.

Coach Buddy Pough and the South Carolina State Bulldogs defeated Coach Deion Sanders and the Jackson State Tigers football team by a final score of 31-10 in the 2021 Cricket Celebration Bowl. 48,653 fans attended the event in the Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Dec. 18.

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Published Dec 21, 2021

KYLE T. MOSLEY

I am Kyle T. Mosley, the Founder, Managing Editor, and Chief Reporter for the HBCU Legends, Saints News Network, and Pelicans Scoop on FanNation a Sports Illustrated team channel since October 2019. Morehouse Alum, McDonogh #35 Roneagles (NOLA), Drum Major of the Tenacious Four. My Father, Mother, Grandmother, Aunts and Uncles were HBCU graduates! Host of "Blow the Whistle" HBCU Legends, "The Quad" with Coach Steward, and "Bayou Blitz" Podcasts. Radio/Media Appearances: WWL AM/FM Radio in New Orleans (Mike Detillier/Bobby Hebert), KCOH AM 1230 in Houston (Ralph Cooper), WBOK AM in New Orleans (Reggie Flood/Ro Brown), and 103.7FM "The Game" (Jordy Hultberg/Clint Domingue), College Kickoff Unlimited (Emory Hunt), Jeff Lightsly Show, and Offscript TV on YouTube. Television Appearance: Fox26 in Houston on The Isiah Carey Factor, College Kickoff Unlimited (Emory Hunt). My Notable Interviews: Byron Allen (Media Mogul), Deion Sanders (Jackson State University, Head Coach), Tomekia Reed (Jackson State Lady Tigers Basketball Coach), Taylor Rooks (NBA Reporter), Swin Cash (VP of Basketball - New Orlean Pelicans), Demario and Tamala Davis (NFL Player), Jerry Rice (Hall of Famer), Doug Williams (HBCU & NFL Legend), Emmitt Smith (Hall of Famer), James "Shack" Harris (HBCU & NFL Legend), Cris Carter (Hall of Famer), Solomon Wilcots (SiriusXM NFL Host), Steve Wyche (NFL Network), Jim Trotter (NFL Network), Travis Williams (Founder of HBCU All-Stars, LLC), Malcolm Jenkins (NFL Player), Cam Jordan (NFL), Demario Davis (NFL), Allan Houston (NBA All-Star), Drew Brees (Former NFL QB), Deuce McAllister (Former NFL RB), Willie Roaf (NFL Hall of Fame), Jim Everett (Former NFL Player), Quinn Early (Former NFL Player), Dr. Reef (NFL Players' Trainer Specialist), Nataria Holloway (VP of the NFL). I am building a new team of journalists, podcasters, videographers, and interns. For media requests, interviews, or interest in joining HBCU Legends, please contact me at kmosley@hbcusi.com. Follow me: