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SWAC Championship Game
Sport	College football
Conference	Southwestern Athletic Conference
Current stadium	Bragg Memorial Stadium (2023)
Current location	Tallahassee, Florida (2023)
Played	1999–present
Last contest	December 2, 2023
Current champion	Florida A&M
Most championships	Grambling State (8)
TV partner(s)	ESPN
Official website	SWAC Football
Sponsors
HealthSouth (1999–2002) Jeep (2003) Dodge (2004) Farmers Insurance (2009–2012) Toyota (2013–2018) Cricket Wireless (2019–present)
Host stadiums
Legion Field (1999–2012) NRG Stadium (2013–2017) Jack Spinks Stadium (2018–2019) Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium (2021–2022) Bragg Memorial Stadium (2023)
Host locations
Birmingham, Alabama (1999–2012) Houston, Texas (2013–2017) Lorman, Mississippi (2018–2019) Jackson, Mississippi (2021–2022) Tallahassee, Florida (2023)

The SWAC Championship Game, officially the Cricket Wireless SWAC Championship Game, is an American college football game that is held annually on the first Saturday in December by the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) to determine its football champion. The game pits the champion of the Eastern Division against the champion of the Western Division in a game that follows the conclusion of the regular season. From 2015 onward, the winner of the game has represented the SWAC in the Celebration Bowl. Currently, it is the only conference championship game conducted at the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level. As of the 2019 season, the game is sponsored by Cricket Wireless.

The game was held at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama, from 1999 through 2012, and moved to NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, for the 2013 through 2017 playings. Since 2018, the game has been played at a campus site, hosted by the participant with the higher ranking, with the exception of the 2021 spring game when the championship moved to its third neutral location at the Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium in Jackson, Mississippi due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

History

Following the 1998 season, the SWAC announced that the league would be split into two divisions with the divisional winners meeting in a championship game. At the time of the announcement, a site for the game had not been selected but the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, the Astrodome in Houston, the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium in Jackson, Ladd–Peebles Stadium in Mobile and Legion Field in Birmingham were each mentioned as potential locations for the event. Additionally, expansion of the league to twelve teams was also under consideration with Tennessee State, Florida A&M, Tuskegee and Morris Brown mentioned as possible additions. In February 1999, a championship game was officially approved by the SWAC Council of Presidents. Officials also stated the winner of the championship game would advance to play in the Heritage Bowl against an opponent from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC).

The following May, SWAC officials announced the league offices would move from New Orleans to Birmingham and that the championship game would be played at Legion Field. Birmingham was selected over New Orleans, Houston, Baton Rouge and Memphis as the city guaranteed both free office space to house the league headquarters and free access to Legion Field to host the game. The inaugural game was played on December 11, with Southern defeating Jackson State 31–30 before 47,621 fans at Legion Field. The following week, Southern lost to Hampton in the Heritage Bowl; however, the meeting would be the only one for the SWAC champion following the championship game. In January 2000 the NCAA ruled schools cannot compete in two postseason games, effectively ending participation in the Heritage Bowl by the SWAC champion. With the SWAC left unable to compete, the Heritage Bowl folded in February 2000.

In July 2010, commissioner Duer Sharp announced the SWAC was interested in participating in the Legacy Bowl against the MEAC to determine the annual black college football national championship. Although a decision regarding the contest was postponed to 2011, SWAC participation in the event would potentially end the annual championship game in Birmingham. Ultimately, the SWAC championship game was retained, and in May 2013, SWAC officials announced a move from Legion Field to Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas starting with the December 2013 playing.

In June 2017, the SWAC announced that it would end its football championship game following that season's contest, and would send its regular season champion to the Celebration Bowl from 2018 onward. In June 2018, the league reversed course, announcing that a championship game would be played in Birmingham. In November 2018, the league further advised that the championship game would be played at the “SWAC institution with the highest ranking.” The December 2018 game was held at Jack Spinks Stadium in Lorman, Mississippi, home field of the Alcorn State Braves; the December 2019 game returned to the same venue. The championship game for the 2020 season, held in the spring of 2021, was moved to a neutral site, Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium. Subsequent games have been held at campus sites.

Team selection

When the game was initially proposed, the teams playing in the championship game was to include those with the best record against seven conference opponents from each division. However in August 1999 league officials changed the rule. For the inaugural contest, participation in the championship game was based on the record against the four divisional opponents only, not all conference teams. This format was dropped by the SWAC following the 1999 championship game in favor of the original proposal based on all league games, not only the divisional opponents.

Divisions

Since the SWAC split into divisions and began conducting a conference championship game, the divisions have only ever been realigned once. In 2021, Florida A&M and Bethune-Cookman joined the SWAC and were placed into the Eastern Division, and Alcorn State was moved to the Western Division to maintain an equal number of teams in both divisions.

Results

† Texas Southern vacated its 2010 Championship victory, along with all its 2006 to 2010 wins, to avoid the NCAA imposing an athletics Death Penalty.
‡ The 2020 season spanned the fall of 2020 and spring of 2021, with the championship game played on May 1, 2021.

Results by team

Updated for December 2023; 24 editions played, 50 total appearances.

Championship years appear in bold type.
† Texas Southern vacated its 2010 championship game victory.

Previous SWAC champions

Prior to splitting into divisions and using a postseason championship game to decide its overall champion, the SWAC determined its champions by winning-percentage against conference opponents in regular season play.

In 1933 Langston appeared to win the title outright with a 4-0 conference record after the regular season, while Wiley finished 4-1, and Prairie View A&M finished 3-1. Langston was invited to the Prairie View Bowl, which was won by Prairie View. The Panthers subsequently declared themselves SWAC champions even though their claim was based on a postseason game. The SWAC seems to acknowledge both schools' claims to the title in the conference's football media guide, although some other sources including Michael Hurd's Black College Football, 1892–1992: One Hundred Years of History, Education, and Pride (1993) also list Wiley as an additional co-champion, apparently since all three schools had 4-1 records against conference opponents if the postseason game is incorporated into the regular season conference standings.

Prairie View vacated its 1941 championship. No championship was awarded in 1943 due to World War II. Grambling State vacated its 1975 championship due to a violation of SWAC rules for scheduling opponents.

References

1. "SWAC Announces 2019 ESPN Football Schedule". SWAC.org (Press release). June 20, 2019. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
2. "SWAC FB Championship Game". swac.org. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
3. ^ Crenshaw, Solomon Jr. (December 4, 1998). "SWAC will split into divisions, add championship game". The Birmingham News. p. 1D.
4. ^ AP Reporters (December 3, 1998). "SWAC will split into two divisions". The Associated Press State & Local Wire.
5. ^ AP Reporters (February 8, 1999). "Conference presidents approve SWAC championship game". The Associated Press State & Local Wire.
6. ^ Crenshaw, Solomon Jr. (May 4, 1999). "SWAC expected to announce it's moving to Birmingham". The Birmingham News. p. 1A.
7. Robinson, Fred (May 5, 1999). "N.O. lets SWAC leave town; League heading to Birmingham". The Times-Picayune. New Orleans, LA. p. D1.
8. ^ Schiefelbein, Joseph (December 12, 1999). "Big-play champs: Jaguars capture third straight SWAC crown". The Advocate. Baton Rouge, LA. p. 1C.
9. Staff Reporters (January 19, 2000). "Richardson unfazed by Heritage Bowl change". The Advocate. Baton Rouge, LA. p. 1D.
10. Staff Reporters (February 11, 2000). "Heritage Bowl discontinued". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. p. 9D.
11. ^ Grant, Thomas Jr. (July 29, 2010). "Commissioner: Legacy Bowl 'no-brainer' for SWAC". The Times and Democrat. Orangeburg, SC. Retrieved January 10, 2011.
12. Grant, Thomas Jr. (August 31, 2010). "Legacy Bowl decision off until spring". The Times and Democrat. Orangeburg, SC. Retrieved January 10, 2011.
13. Birdsong, Nick (May 30, 2013). "SWAC football, basketball championships headed to Houston". AL.com. Retrieved December 1, 2013.
14. "SWAC to Forgo Football Title Game after 2017". swac.org. NeuLion. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
15. "SWAC major championships returning to Birmingham". 12 July 2018.
16. "SWAC football championship game is officially a 4-team playoff". 12 November 2018.
17. Bowker, Ernest (November 23, 2019). "Alcorn crushes Jackson State, earns home field advantage for SWAC championship game". The Vicksburg Post. Retrieved November 25, 2019.
18. ^ Schiefelbein, Joseph (August 18, 1999). "SWAC format for title game changes". The Advocate. Baton Rouge, LA. p. 7D.
19. Guilbeau, Glenn (August 22, 1999). "SWAC division plan good one". The Advocate. Baton Rouge, LA. p. 1C.
20. Schiefelbein, Joseph (December 12, 1999). "SWAC alters format to include all league games". The Advocate. Baton Rouge, LA. p. 11C.
21. "SWAC Announces Division Realignment Starting 2021-22". swac.org. September 3, 2020.
22. Norris, Toraine (December 3, 2000). "Trick play backfires on A&M, Lifts Grambling to SWAC title". The Birmingham News.
23. Segrest, Doug (December 2, 2001). "Grambling overtakes Hornets in the second half". The Birmingham News.
24. Schiefelbein, Joseph (December 2, 2001). "Defense bounces back: Grambling defenders turn tide with fumble recoveries". The Advocate. Baton Rouge, LA. p. 10C.
25. Schiefelbein, Joseph (December 15, 2002). "Grambling wins, with defense: Tigers capture third straight SWAC Championship Game trophy with help from big stop". The Advocate. Baton Rouge, LA. p. 10C.
26. Perrin, Mike (December 14, 2003). "Mistakes sting ASU: Hornets can't overcome costly penalties in SWAC title game". The Birmingham News.
27. Schiefelbein, Joseph (December 14, 2003). "Back in business: Jaguars win SWAC title with grit". The Advocate. Baton Rouge, LA. p. 1C.
28. Perrin, Mike (December 12, 2004). "Hornets finish off second SWAC title". The Birmingham News. p. 1C.
29. Schiefelbein, Joseph (December 12, 2004). "Fast and loose; Williams gets untracked as Hornets win scorefest for SWAC title over Jaguars". The Advocate. Baton Rouge, LA. p. 1C.
30. Benson, Reggie (December 11, 2005). "A SWAC smack". The Huntsville Times. p. 1C.
31. Schiefelbein, Joseph (December 11, 2005). "Eugene leads Grambling to SWAC championship". The Advocate. Baton Rouge, LA. p. 1C.
32. Perrin, Mike (December 17, 2006). "To the rescue Rookie QB, swarming defense spark A&M to first title". The Birmingham News. p. 1B.
33. Cross, Beck (December 17, 2006). "SWAC Championship; UAPB's hopes wilt in 2nd half". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Little Rock, AR. p. 1C.
34. Jones, James (December 16, 2007). "Comegy's Tigers earn SWAC championship; Team rebuilt in less time than expected". Sun Herald. Biloxi, MS. p. C1.
35. SWAC, p. 91
36. Solomon, Jerome (December 12, 2009). "A long time coming: Panthers dodge game-ending scare, hoist first title trophy in 45 years". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved January 9, 2010.
37. Solomon, Jerome (December 12, 2010). "TSU beats Alabama State 11–6 to claim SWAC crown". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved January 9, 2010.
38. Segrest, Doug (December 11, 2010). "Big defense, backup QB deliver Texas Southern victory against Alabama State". The Birmingham News. Retrieved January 9, 2010.
39. Benson, Reggie (December 10, 2011). "Bulldogs come up short again against Tigers". The Huntsville Times. Retrieved December 10, 2011.
40. Birdsong, Nick (December 8, 2012). "SWAC Championship: 95-yard TD pass helps lift UAPB to 24-21 win against Jackson State". AL.com. Retrieved December 9, 2012.
41. "Southern defeats Jackson St, 34–27 in 2 OT". ESPN.com. Associated Press. December 7, 2013. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
42. "Alcorn State beats Southern 38–24 for SWAC title". ESPN.com. Associated Press. December 6, 2014. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
43. "Alcorn State tops Grambling St, 49–21; repeats as SWAC champ". ESPN.com. Associated Press. December 5, 2015. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
44. "Grambling St. overtakes Alcorn St. 27-20 for SWAC title". ESPN.com. Associated Press. December 3, 2016. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
45. "Alcorn State vs. Grambling - Game Summary - December 2, 2017 - ESPN".
46. "Grambling St. Wins Back-To-Back Swac Championships".
47. "Southern vs. Alcorn State - Game Summary - December 1, 2018 - ESPN".
48. "Alcorn State outlasts Southern to win Toyota SWAC Football Championship". swac.org. December 1, 2018. Retrieved December 2, 2018.
49. "Southern vs. Alcorn State - Team Statistics - December 7, 2019 - ESPN".
50. "No. 22 Alabama A&M Wins First SWAC Football Championship in 15 Years with 40-33 Win over No. 25 UAPB". May 2021.
51. "Jackson State Defeats Prairie View A&M to Claim SWAC Championship". swac.org. 2021-12-04. Retrieved 2023-11-26.
52. Bowker, Ernest (2022-12-04). "Jackson State swats Southern, wins SWAC championship". The Vicksburg Post. Retrieved 2023-11-26.
53. "FAMU Defeats Prairie View A&M To Win First SWAC Football Championship". www.famu.edu. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
54. ^ Eder, Steve (October 9, 2012). "Texas Southern is penalized by the NCAA". The New York Times. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
55. "2015 SWAC Football Media Day by SWAC - Issuu". 20 July 2015.
56. ^ "2010 GSU FB Media Guide" (PDF).
57. "The Afro American - Google News Archive Search".
58. "Unknown".
59. "Unknown".

Bibliography

• Southwestern Athletic Conference Football Media Guide. Birmingham, AL: Southwestern Athletic Conference. 2010. Retrieved January 10, 2010.

• SWAC Football Championship Game
• Black college football
• Recurring sporting events established in 1999