6. Cricket Celebration Bowl
North Carolina Central 41, Jackson State 34 OT
Pre-Bowl Matchup Ranking: 35
Pre-Bowl Ranking: 2021: 41, 2020: NA, 2019: NA
Post-Bowl Ranking: 2021:36, 2020: NA, 2019: NA
This was absolutely everything you want a bowl game to be.
It was expected to be a Jackson State coronation to finish off a perfect season as Deion Sanders rode off into the new gig at Colorado. But North Carolina Central was here because it could play, too.
The intensity on both sides was off the charts, both sides were physical, there were tremendous momentum swings throughout, and even in defeat, Coach Prime’s team – especially his son Shedeur Sanders – put on a phenomenal, dramatic show.
Sanders was brilliant on the must-have desperation 81-yard scoring drive, culminating in the final moments of regulation with a touchdown pass with no time left to send it into overtime. NC Central QB Davius Richard and his side did just a little bit more.
What Happened, Player of the Game, Fun Stats, What it Means
Bowl Rankings 2022-2023
Bowls of Sad | Instant Memory Dumped Bowls
Just Bowls | Very Good Bowls | Great Bowls
Classic Bowls No. 8 | No. 7 | No. 6 | No. 5 | No. 4
No. 3 | No. 2 | No. 1 | Bowl Scoreboard