The FAMU Rattlers defeated the Howard Bison by a score of 30-26 to win the 2023 Celebration Bowl before 41,108 fans in the Mercedes Benz Dome in Atlanta, Ga. The Rattlers are just the second SWAC school to win the Celebration Bowl since the game was established in 2015, and Grambling won in 2016.
The game was thriller that featured three lead changes, a pick six and a touchdown on a flea flicker in the final quarter alone.
The victory gave the Rattlers their 16th HBCU National Championship, and 45 years to the day that FAMU defeated Mass to claim the Division 1-AA national title (December 16, 1978).