The Celebration Bowl is set to air on ABC

After decades of discussion, reality is now six months away.

Today it was announced that ESPN Events locked in the inaugural Celebration Bowl for Dec. 19 at noon, where it will be carried by ABC. The Celebration Bowl, which showcases the legacy, values and traditions of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, will pit the conference champion from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) against the Southwestern Athletic Conference champion (SWAC).

We could not be more pleased to have the Celebration Bowl kicking off the college football bowl season on ABC, said Pete Derzis, senior vice president, ESPN Events. Not only will the first annual Celebration Bowl deliver a first-class postseason experience to the teams, their fans and their alumni; the live telecast on ABC will bring the thrill and pageantry of the bowl to fans across the nation.

HBCU football is back on the map and on broadcast television.

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