The allure of the Southeastern Conference is mesmerizing to students and families with longstanding traditions, from Kentucky to Texas A&M and every school in between.

Vicksburg is equidistant between a rivalry and culture unnoticed to the masses.

ESPN Events has announced the inaugural Celebration Bowl on ABC to kick off the new bowl season on Dec. 19. The Celebration Bowl will put the champions of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference against the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

The MEAC & SWAC play in the Football Championship Subdivision and since both conferences do not compete in the College Football Playoffs, they were eligible to play in this bowl game.

“We’re excited for the opportunity of the league,” Alcorn State head coach Jay Hopson said. “We do have the number one attendance in all of FCS football. To play on ABC is a great opportunity.”

The inaugural bowl is important as it gives exposure to athletes at Historically Black Colleges and Universities. This also allows HBCUs to have a national championship game, instead of two conference champions and a national champion decided by polls.

This is not the first time the SWAC and MEAC champions have met in the postseason. Between 1991-98, the conferences played in the Heritage Bowl.

The first game in Miami drew a crowd of 7,724. The Bowl was moved to Atlanta in 1994 and averaged about 28,000 fans per game afterwards.

The Heritage Bowl eventually came to an end after the MEAC chose to send its champion to the NCAA playoffs instead of the bowl game.

“Just to have an FCS national bowl game, we’re all excited about it,” Hopson said.

There are a lot games labeled as “classics” in HBCU football, which are the equivalent to big-time rivalry games between SEC schools; the Aggie-Eagle Classic between North Carolina A&T and North Carolina Central; the Magic City Classic between Alabama State and Alabama A&M; and the Southern Heritage Classic between Jackson State and Alcorn State.

Some classics also send conference rivals to neutral site arenas in cities like Atlanta or Indianapolis to play.

In 2013, Alcorn State played Grambling in Indianapolis’ Lucas Oil Stadium.

Hopson said HBCUs have a rich tradition when it comes athletics.

“Walter Payton at Jackson State, Steve McNair at Alcorn and Jerry Rice at Mississippi Valley, all played in the SWAC in Mississippi,” Hopson said. “I think it’s a great thing and I think it’s something both leagues are excited about”

Other notable HBCU athletes include Donald Driver of Alcorn State, Deacon Jones of Mississippi Valley, and Robert Brazile and Pro Football Hall of Fame offensive tackle Jackie Slater from Jackson State.

Alcorn kicks off the season in Atlanta against Georgia Tech, who beat Mississippi State in the Orange Bowl last New Year’s Eve.

Alcorn is working hard for its season opener with summer conditioning drills, although the full team won’t be back until next week.

Hopson has never coached against a MEAC school, but will play in the MEAC-SWAC Challenge in 2016.

The SWAC already has a contract to play games on ESPN and ESPNU and nearly 40,000 fans attended the 2014 SWAC championship game in Houston.

Alcorn State is keeping it eyes focused on the season opener and trying not to look too far ahead into the season.

SWAC Commissioner Duer Sharp said in a press release he is also excited about the announcement for the Celebration Bowl.

“This stage will provide the nation with front-row seat into the passion, pride and heritage of the SWAC and HBCU football,” Sharp said.