Relive the Top 10 moments from the 2022-23 North Carolina Central University Athletics season each weekday during June 26-30.
 
NO. 1 – In a highly anticipated matchup of two nationally-ranked teams clashing in the Cricket Celebration Bowl, North Carolina Central University amassed 482 yards of total offense, including 276 powerful yards rushing, to defeat Jackson State, 41-34, in overtime, as the Eagles captured their fourth HBCU national championship in NCCU history in front of 49,670 fans inside a sold out Mercedes-Benz Stadium with millions more watching on ABC. 

Jackson State (12-1) entered the contest ranked fifth in the AFCA Top 25 poll with the nation's top-rated defense, holding opponents to an average of 233.2 yards of total offense and 11.2 points scored. NCCU (10-2), ranked No. 21 in the nation, recorded more than twice as many total yards and scored more than three times the points typically surrendered by the Tigers. In fact, JSU had not allowed more than 24 points in a game all season.

NCCU junior quarterback Davius Richard, the Celebration Bowl Offensive MVP, completed 15-of-20 passes for 175 yards and a touchdown, while adding 97 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, including the game-winning 1-yard run in overtime. He also caught a 31-yard pass from senior receiver E.J. Hicks, who later connected on a pass to Richard for a two-point conversion. NCCU junior safety Khalil Baker collected a team-best 10 tackles to earn the Celebration Bowl Defensive MVP award.

Richard and Baker achieved numerous honors during the 2022 campaign.

Richard, the 2022 MEAC Offensive Player of the Year and a recipient of the Football Championship Subdivision Athletics Directors Association (FCS ADA) 22nd annual Scholar-Athlete of the Year award, led the conference in passing yards (2,661), passing touchdowns (25), and rushing touchdowns (15). He also broke NCCU single-season records for pass completions (199), pass completion percentage (64.0%), and total offense (3,449), while ranking fifth in the nation (NCAA Division I-FCS) in points responsible for with 244 points.

Baker, the 2022 MEAC Defensive Player of the Year, became the first NCCU Eagle to earn First Team All-America honors from the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) or the Associated Press on the NCAA Division I-FCS level following his historic junior season. He was also selected as the recipient of the inaugural Aeneas Williams Award winner, presented to the nation's best defensive back in HBCU Division I college football on behalf of the award's namesake, Aeneas Williams, and Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame. The safety ranked second in the MEAC with four interceptions, including a touchdown return in a road win over nationally-ranked New Hampshire, and placed fifth in the conference in passes defended with nine. Baker topped the team with 61 tackles (43 solo), including 2.0 stops for a loss, while also recording five pass break-ups and recovering a fumble.

Under the direction of NCCU alumnus and 2022 MEAC Football Coach of the Year Trei Oliver, the Eagles won their first MEAC football championship since 2016, and secured the university's fourth HBCU national championship title, joining the company of those captured in 1954, 2005 and 2006. The 2022 NCCU Eagles became just the third team in school history to win 10 games in a season and earned the program's highest NCAA Division I-FCS national ranking at No. 17 in the final American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Coaches' Poll. During the historic campaign, the Eagles celebrated non-conference FCS triumphs over North Carolina A&T, Tennessee Tech, No. 25 New Hampshire, and No. 5 Jackson State.

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