Coach Deion Sanders and Jackson State’s bid for an undefeated season ended with a 41-34 overtime loss to North Carolina Central in Saturday’s Celebration Bowl. Here’s what you should know:
- The Eagles scored in overtime, but the Tigers’ last-ditch attempt to extend the game fell short with Shedeur Sanders’ incompletion.
- North Carolina Central quarterback Davius Richard went 15-of-20 for 175 yards and a touchdown while adding 94 yards and a score on the ground. He also caught a two-point conversion to put the Eagles up by seven late in the fourth quarter and hauled in a 31-yard catch in the first half.
- Jackson State QB Sanders finished the game with 329 yards on 27-of-35 passing with four touchdowns. He also ran for a fifth score on the day.
The Athletic’s instant analysis:
Background
Deion Sanders accepted the Colorado coaching job back on Dec. 4 but returned to Jackson State to coach his team in its final game against the MEAC champion Eagles.
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The matchup featured six lead changes during regulation and marked the first time that the bowl game, which was first played in 2015, has gone to overtime. Shedeur Sanders found Travis Hunter on the final play of regulation to force OT, but Jackson State’s dream season ultimately ended in heartbreak.
The #CelebrationBowl heads to OT for the first time in its history 😳
Travis Hunter with the huge catch to finish regulation!!
More football on the way from Jackson State and NC Central.
🎥 @ESPNCFBpic.twitter.com/4axkwMglfm
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) December 17, 2022
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell was in attendance, taking an in-person look at his nephew, Charlton Goodell, a sophomore defensive end for the Tigers.
What does this mean for Deion Sanders and Jackson State?
Sanders will face questions about his ability to win when the lights are brightest. His 12-0 regular season will go down in school history, but his Tigers lost last year’s Celebration Bowl by three touchdowns after going 8-0 in SWAC play.
He’s faced plenty of questions and criticism for leaving Jackson State and what he’ll be able to do at Colorado, and Saturday’s loss won’t do much to quiet them.
Sanders was emotional in the locker room before his final game as Jackson State’s head coach and now he officially turns the page to the next chapter in his coaching career.
Deion Sanders was overcome with emotion addressing his Jackson State team one last time before the #CelebrationBowl.
🎥 @andscapepic.twitter.com/x4zuAVbzCs
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) December 17, 2022
What’s next?
Sanders is headed back to Boulder where a major recruiting weekend is already underway. The Buffs are hosting nearly 20 players on official visits ahead of the early signing period next week, including some who are committed to other programs.
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Sanders’ hallmark in Jackson was his ability to bring previously unseen levels of talent to the program, and he’ll aim to do the same at Colorado, who went 1-11 last season. The coach already earned a commitment from Dylan Edwards, a four-star prospect who had been committed to Notre Dame. Colorado hasn’t had a four-star signee since the Class of 2020.
Shedeur Sanders plans to follow his father to Colorado, and was informally announced as Colorado’s starting quarterback during his dad’s initial introduction in Boulder earlier this month.
Highlight of the game
.@NCCU_Football pullin' out the trick plays on the two-point conversion 👏 pic.twitter.com/KAbrnXmbiT
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) December 17, 2022
Key stat
The 2022 Celebration Bowl marked North Carolina Central’s second appearance in the postseason game and first win. The Eagles first played in the bowl game in 2016 and suffered a narrow 10-9 loss to Grambling State.
Required reading
(Photo: Dale Zanine / USA Today)
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