 What a game!
Cameron Indoor delivered another classic last night as Duke edged the reigning national champion Florida Gators in a down-to-the-wire thriller, 67–66. The win not only gave the Blue Devils another signature out-of-conference victory, but also the Blue Devils did their part in the ACC/SEC Challenge. And when you look back at the schedule, it’s hard not to be impressed. Duke has stacked OOC wins over Texas, Kansas, Arkansas, and now Florida - all before we even reach Christmas break. Add in the “Brotherhood Run” of games that welcomed back former Duke players now coaching elsewhere, and it’s been one of the most exciting and high-level starts to a season in recent memory. And don’t forget the road exhibition win at Tennessee back in October, which set the tone early. Jon Scheyer’s scheduling philosophy has been a talking point for months. He took questions about it throughout the preseason, and even two of my own press-conference questions have centered on the complexity and ambition of this slate. I asked him about the February matchup with Michigan, and more recently about the Arkansas (neutral) → Florida (home) → Michigan State (away) gauntlet after Duke beat Arkansas in Chicago on Thanksgiving night. His answer was pure Scheyer: we are learning something every day about our team, approaching it one game at a time. “The team won’t hear me say one word about Michigan State,” he told me. “It's strictly now Florida when we get back.” And to Scheyer’s credit, the team has adopted that mindset. They’ve taken on one of the nation’s most demanding schedules one possession, one half, one game at a time. Now, with Florida in the rearview, the focus finally can shift to Saturday’s noon tip at Michigan State - another true test away from home. And the schedule keeps coming: Lipscomb at Cameron in mid-December, then a return trip to MSG for a battle with Texas Tech in what’s shaping up to be another epic “Cameron North” moment. And if you think ACC play might ease up the pressure? Think again - Duke’s third conference game is a road trip to #6 Louisville on January 6th. Yes, as fans we can’t help but peek ahead at this monster of a schedule. It’s that exciting. But the identity of this Duke team is clear: focus, maturity, and a commitment to the moment right in front of them. As of early December, the Blue Devils are 9–0 - and it’s been an electric start. We’ll all get hyped for what’s ahead, but for now, it’s worth savoring a gritty, emotional win over Florida and gearing up for a massive test at Michigan State this weekend.
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 Duke football heads just down Tobacco Road to face rival North Carolina in the battle for the Victory Bell with a 3:30 PM kickoff on the ACC Network. Quick Thoughts After back-to-back losses, Duke heads to Chapel Hill looking to right the ship and grab a win. This matchup has all the makings of pure ACC Chaos. Earlier this week, my good friend Brian Kennedy of Section 17 Media shared some rankings: Duke comes in with the nation’s 30th-ranked offense and 117th-ranked defense, while UNC sits at 129th on offense and 37th on defense. If that doesn’t scream classic ACC Chaos, I don’t know what does. Why It Matters Both teams entered the season with bigger dreams. Duke fans hoped to build off last year’s 9–4 finish in Year 1 of the Manny Diaz era and push for a top-tier bowl. Meanwhile, UNC fans were fired up for the arrival of Chapel Hill Bill and if you listened to the preseason chatter, you’d think UNC was about to become the 33rd NFL franchise. LOL. Fast forward to now: both teams are still fighting for bowl eligibility with two games left. Duke sits at 5–5, UNC at 4–6. A win here changes the tone some. Either Manny Diaz keeps the Victory Bell in Durham with a road win, or Bill Belichick grabs a home win to swing the momentum Carolina desperately needs. Both programs always want this one badly. Final Prediction
This is a prime opportunity for Duke to reset, keep the Victory Bell, and head into the last game with some energy. Vegas has favored Duke in each of the last two games, and Duke dropped both...so Vegas has been a little off lately. But interestingly, Vegas opened the year with Duke’s win total at 6.5… and with two games left, that projection is still sitting right in the sweet spot. FanDuel currently has Duke favored by 6.5 with an over/under of 51.5. And like I said this game screams ACC Chaos from every angle. You could make a case either way. But you know me... I can't pick against Duke in a rivalry game. Fan or not, I’m rolling with Manny Diaz and this Duke squad to walk into Chapel Hill, get bowl eligible, and keep the Victory Bell right where it belongs. Duke 34 North Carolina 24 Go Duke!  We’re back with Week 13 bowl projections from Brian Kennedy of Duke Football Talk and myself, Freddie Hodges of Duke Report. Freddie Hodges – Duke Report As I said last week walking out of Wallace Wade Stadium after the loss to Virginia: what could have been is gone. At this point, it’s simple, go to Chapel Hill, keep the Victory Bell, beat UNC, and get eligible for a low-tier bowl. This Duke football season has been a true roller coaster, but lately that coaster has been pointed downhill. Duke still isn’t bowl eligible with two games left, and if you’ve followed my projections all season, you’ve watched them rise and fall like a stock chart. I started with the Duke’s Mayo Bowl holding steady through Weeks 1–6 like a long-term investor. Then I jumped as high as the Pop-Tarts Bowl in Week 7, slid to Fenway in Week 9, climbed all the way to a wild CFP long-shot scenario in Week 11, and dropped right back to the Military Bowl in Week 12. Just like the season itself, my projections have been up and down. A few weeks ago, even with the losses, Duke still had a clear path: reach the ACC Championship Game, win it, and force the CFP committee to make a tough call. Duke controlled its own destiny… but couldn’t capitalize. The UConn loss was brutal, and the Virginia game wasn’t as close as the final score suggested as UVA controlled it from start to finish. But all that said, there’s still something on the table. A rivalry win over North Carolina down Tobacco Road would change the tone, keeping the Victory Bell in Durham and finally getting Duke bowl eligible. And if Duke wins out, the Blue Devils can still claim the state title with victories over NC State, UNC, and Wake Forest. As for the bowl projection... it’s still like throwing a dart at a moving target, only now the possible landing spots have shifted down a tier. I can see Duke ending up anywhere from the Military Bowl to the Birmingham Bowl to the Gasparilla Bowl. For now, I’m keeping Duke heading north up the road to Annapolis for the Military Bowl.  Brian Kennedy - Duke Football Talk Duke fans, I am at a loss for words. I just don't know what to say after this past weekend's disappointing performance against Virginia. Going into the game, many thought this would be the week where Duke would get back on track as well as becoming bowl eligible. Unfortunately that did not happen, as Duke laid an absolute egg and got taken to the shed by UVA. I am not going to go into what went wrong, (You can listen to this week's episode of the Section 17 podcast for that) but if that same performance is shown against UNC and Wake, we will ALL be enjoying the postseason without a bowl game. This weekend's game in Chapel Hill is now a true tossup. While UNC has improved overall and won 2 out of their last 3, they are still showing signs of growing pains. The defense looks stout, but the offense still needs help. On the flip side, Duke's offense continues to run on all cylinders, and the defense is still looking for answers. I'll make it very simple, a Duke win this weekend, and the season is somewhat salvaged., with a guaranteed bowl game. A loss however, and the questions and concerns for the program will start to mount. I still feel like this team will win 1 of their last 2 games, and make a bowl, which is why I am here. I almost did not write my part of this article this week, but I cannot shy away when things are going in the wrong direction. As far as where I have Duke, I have them on the move again. I am of the notion if Duke does become bowl eligible, they will be one of the last teams selected for a bowl. I told someone the other day, I could see Duke going to a bowl that is not in the regular rotation for the ACC and I am sticking to it. For this week's prediction, I have Duke moving to the Lone Star state and playing in the First Responder Bowl.  Stay tuned — Brian and I will be updating projections every week right here at Blue Devils Blog. See you at Wallace Wade.   Duke welcomes Virginia to Wallace Wade Stadium this Saturday for a 3:30 PM kickoff on ESPN2. And yes YouTube TV folks, consider this your warning. As of Friday morning, the Disney/Google dispute is still unresolved. I’ll be in the stadium, but I’m already looking at that $5 one-day Sling pass for my dad. Anyway, enough about streaming drama—let’s talk football. This matchup carries major stakes for both teams. Despite injuries on each side, this game has all the makings of an ACC showdown with real postseason implications. Quick Thoughts A 3:30 kickoff in Wallace Wade is always a win—you get the daylight, you get the finish under the lights, and you get the atmosphere. Plenty of questions swirl around this one:
This game feels unpredictable in the best way—two flawed teams still capable of dangerous football. Why It Matters Why is this game so important? Let’s start with the obvious: Duke sits at 5–4 and needs one more win to become bowl eligible. Beating Virginia at home accomplishes that. But it goes deeper. A win also keeps the ACC Championship dream alive. Duke controls its own destiny—win these last three games, and the Blue Devils will be in Charlotte. Despite the ups and downs of a 4-loss season, there’s still time to regroup, reset, and close strong. A victory over UVA could be the spark that starts that run. Final Prediction This is a prime opportunity for Duke to make a statement at home. The line opened at Duke -5.5 before sliding to -4.5, with the Over/Under hovering around 58.5. I expect Chandler Morris to suit up for Virginia, but I also expect Duke’s defense to respond and hold the Cavaliers under 25 points. Give me Duke earning bowl eligibility, holding serve at home, and keeping the ACC Championship path alive. Duke 31 Virginia 23 Go Duke!  We’re back with Week 12 bowl projections from Brian Kennedy of Duke Football Talk and myself, Freddie Hodges of Duke Report. Embracing the ACC Chaos Same headline as last week — embrace the ACC Chaos. The Coastal Division may be gone, but that brand of chaos is still alive and well in the ACC. Last weekend proved it again: Virginia lost at home to Wake Forest (yeah, I saw that one coming — UVA’s luck finally ran out). What I didn’t see was the “Calgorithm” — yes, California — going on the road and upsetting Louisville. And then there was Duke. A road loss at UConn. I know it had all the makings of a trap game, but really... UConn? A team whose losses include Delaware and Rice? That’s a tough one to swallow. The UConn loss was bad — no way around it. Duke now sits at 5-4, still one win away from bowl eligibility with three games left. At this point, Duke feels like that poker player with all their chips already on the table — no choice but to go all in. Either keep losing and hope to sneak into a lower-tier bowl like the Boca Raton Bowl, or win out, make the ACC Championship, and force the CFP Committee to make a tough decision. Last week, I went all-in on ACC Chaos and even had Duke in the CFP picture. But here’s the thing: that UConn loss — being out of conference — doesn’t impact Duke’s path to Charlotte. The Blue Devils’ remaining games — Virginia (home), North Carolina (away), and Wake Forest (home) — are all winnable. As of this writing, Duke is favored by 5.5 points over Virginia according to several sportsbooks. Vegas even lists a Duke vs. Georgia Tech matchup as the most likely ACC Championship pairing. Clearly, Vegas still believes — even if many fans have pulled back after that flat defensive showing in Storrs. All that said, this week’s bowl projection still feels like trying to hit a dartboard in the middle of the ocean with the waves rocking. Duke just needs that sixth win. If they do, the Gasparilla Bowl or Military Bowl both make sense — but if Duke wins out, the dart could still land on something much bigger. I don’t see the CFP committee putting two Group of Five teams ahead of an ACC champion — like it or not. I swung for the fences last week with the playoff pick, but this Duke defense needs to wake up down the final stretch. For now, my dart lands on the Military Bowl — but check back after the Virginia game. In the ACC, chaos is the only constant. Welcome to ACC Chaos!  Brian Kennedy - Duke Football Talk Welcome to the crazy train Duke fans. We have officially reached the point of the season where the only thing for certain, is that nothing is for certain. I am still trying to process the loss to UCONN, even after I called the game against the Huskies a trap game since the preseason. Should Duke have won that game? In my eyes they should have, however this was the 3rd game of the year where everyone was going "What happened?" From going away from the run game to mistakes on the defense, it was another one of those games. With the loss, Duke is still knocking on the door of bowl eligibility and come back home to face a battered and beaten Virginia team. All signs are pointing to QB Chandler Morris playing, which does not bode well for Duke. HOWEVER, this is another very winnable game. Virginia has struggled the last 3 weeks, and with their injuries could faulter. Unfortunately, as I stated on the Section 17 podcast, I am also to the point in the season where I want to be proven wrong. If Duke plays like they did against UCONN, they will more than likely head into the next week at 5-5. Correct the mistakes, and play DUKE FOOTBALL, then we should all be breathing a sigh of relief and looking forward to the post season. Speaking of post season, I have Duke on the move yet again for my bowl projection. I have had the Blue Devils in Florida, up north in New York, and out West in San Diego and El Paso. For this week's edition, I have Duke heading back to Florida, this time for the Gasparilla Bowl. I don't like, I did not want to do it, but unfortunately, this is where I am with where I think Duke will land. A Duke win this weekend, and the moving truck will be loading up again and heading to a different destination. A Duke loss? Let's not even go there. Here is to hoping I am wrong, and that I have some crow to eat for next week's projections.  Stay tuned — Brian and I will be updating projections every week right here at Blue Devils Blog. See you at Wallace Wade.   The Blue Devils hit the road again this Saturday, venturing north to East Hartford for a 3:30 PM (ET) kickoff against the Huskies. After last weekend’s sensational win at Clemson in Death Valley, Duke improves to 5-3 and faces their last in season non-conference test. Duke owns a 2-0 edge in its last two meetings with UConn. Quick Thoughts If you read my bowl projection from earlier this week, you know I’m bullish on where this Duke squad can go if they keep stacking wins. But make no mistake — this road trip to UConn has “trap game” written all over it. These are two of the most explosive offenses in the country. Duke brings the 18th-ranked offense into this matchup, while UConn sits just below with the 20th-ranked unit. At quarterback, both sides are in very good hands: Duke’s Darian Mensah is now pushing over 2,500 passing yards this season, and UConn’s veteran signal-caller Joe Fagnano is also above 2,500 yards, averaging 281 per game. When it comes to the defenses, neither unit has been consistently dominant at limiting big plays. Duke is surrendering roughly 263 passing yards per game, and while UConn’s pass defense is a bit better (about 216.7 yards allowed), the Huskies still face their own challenges against high-flying attacks. In short, this one's going to be high-octane and any defensive lapses could be punished. Why It Matters A win here does more than just pad the ledger for Duke. With three regular-season games remaining after this one, a victory on Saturday would officially secure bowl eligibility for the Blue Devils and keep them in position for a quality postseason destination. For UConn, this matchup is all about validation — proving they can hold their own against Power Four competition and continue building momentum heading into the final stretch of the season, especially with bowl eligibility already in hand. Final Prediction FanDuel currently lists Duke as a 9.5-point favorite with the over/under set at 63.5. Given how well Duke’s offense has been rolling — and factoring in that UConn can’t be overlooked, especially at home — here’s how I see it playing out: Duke takes care of business but gets tested early. The Blue Devils’ offensive firepower should ultimately prove too much as they pull away in the second half. With both teams capable of lighting up the scoreboard, I’m leaning toward the Over on total points. Duke 45 UConn 24 Go Duke! After taking off the bye week and then watching that epic Duke win over Clemson in Death Valley we’re back with Week 11 bowl projections from Brian Kennedy of Duke Football Talk and myself, Freddie Hodges of Duke Report. Freddie Hodges – Duke Report Embracing the ACC Chaos How do you go from projecting Duke in the Fenway Bowl back in Week 9 to where I’m about to go now? Well… let’s just say I took a deep dive down the rabbit hole today — and I’m still trying to climb out. I started looking at every remaining ACC schedule, every possible scenario, and all the wild “what ifs” that could (key word: could) happen if the dice roll just right. And if you think my new projection is way off? Hey, I totally get it. I’ll even give you a full money-back guarantee — which is pretty generous considering, you know, this content on Blue Devils Blog is free 😂. Right now, predicting ACC bowl destinations feels like throwing a dart into the ocean and hoping it hits a dartboard rocking on the waves. I’ve racked my brain, gone through half a bottle of white-out, and crumpled up enough notebook paper to fill a recycling bin. The league is packed with teams hovering near the top, and trying to sort through it all feels like a longshot — maybe even a lottery ticket. There’s still plenty of football left, and the season has a lot of chaos still to play out. I could realistically see Duke ending up anywhere from the Fenway Bowl to the Pinstripe, Duke’s Mayo, Sun, Holiday, Pop-Tarts, or even (dare I say it) the College Football Playoff. The only one I’m ruling out? The Gator Bowl — after that Ole Miss beatdown last year, I doubt Duke makes a return trip there anytime soon. Make no mistake — “Coastal Chaos” is alive, well, and screaming louder than ever. The ACC is total madness at the top right now. But Vegas is taking notice of Duke’s run, and some sportsbooks actually have the Blue Devils favored to win the ACC Championship. And honestly? I’m right there with them. That road win at Clemson was a statement. Manny Diaz showed serious guts going for two in the final minutes, with Duke pulling off that 46–45 win in Death Valley didn’t just make Duke fans believe — it caught the oddsmakers’ attention too. Here’s where I’m at:
With the first College Football Playoff rankings out, it’s looking like the ACC will be a one-team playoff league — which means my early Miami-to-Pop-Tarts Bowl and Georgia Tech-to-Gator Bowl projections might hold. As for Duke, the final four games — UConn, Virginia, UNC, and Wake Forest — are all winnable if Duke avoids digging early holes. Win all four, and you’re talking about a potential serious run at the ACC Championship Game. Pitt still has to face Georgia Tech and Miami, and Louisville’s road (with Clemson and SMU still ahead) isn’t any easier. SMU could make noise, but that Louisville matchup will be a tough one. For now, some sportsbooks have it like this for the ACC Championship:
If Duke wins out and takes home the ACC title, that puts them at 10–3, and possibly (even with 3 losses) one of the top five conference champs — which could earn them an automatic bid into the 12-team College Football Playoff. Call me crazy, maybe it’s all those years around the Cameron Crazies and Wade Whackos, but this week my projection has Duke in the College Football Playoff — sneaking in as one of the bottom seeds and heading on the road to face a higher seed. Wild? Absolutely. Possible? Anything is possible with ACC Chaos! But hey, it's ACC Chaos — and anything can happen. First step: take care of business on the road at UConn this Saturday!  Brian Kennedy - Duke Football Talk Well Duke fans, if you have not been entertained by this team so far this season, I've got nothing for you. Duke went down to Death Valley and claimed their first road win over Clemson since 1980. This was also the first time since 1969-1970 where the Devils have won 2 straight against Clemson. While this game was one for the ages, Duke still has work to do. The win did put them one step closer to bowl eligibility, but they still need to handle business against Connecticut this weekend. A Duke win, and Duke will be bowl eligible for the 4th consecutive season, which has not happend since 2012-2015. Now for the not so fun part. Coastal Chaos continues to reek havoc on the ACC, further muddying the waters of post season play. With Georgia Tech's loss to NC State, all 1 loss teams now have a shot to make it to Charlotte to the ACC title game. Virginia is hosting Wake this weekend, and a Cavaliers loss could certainly happen. If that does, Coastal Chaos will have grown to a category 5 situation. These next few weeks are going to be wild. As far as where Duke could be headed, that is even harder to nail down. A lot of factors come into play, and there are some out there that show NO ACC team making the playoff which would throw a huge wrench into where teams go. Instead of getting clarity on things, more teams are becoming bowl eligible, with others knocking on the door such as Duke. I am still going off the notion that at least 1 ACC school will make the playoffs. With all that being said, I am yet again moving the Blue Devils to a new destination. As I am going through scenarios in my head, I no longer see Florida as a path for Duke (unless they win out). A northern bowl is certainly an option but based off where I have certain teams landing, I am moving the Blue Devils to El Paso and the Sun Bowl. Personally, I don't want to see this for the sake of fans being able to go and the distance to travel. As I have stated before, the more Duke wins, the more options open up for bowl destinations. Here is to Duke defeating Connecticut this weekend and becoming bowl eligible!  Stay tuned — Brian and I will be updating projections every week right here at Blue Devils Blog. See you at Wallace Wade.   Duke Football is back after a much-needed bye week! The Blue Devils head to Death Valley for a noon kickoff Saturday against Clemson — and both teams are looking to bounce back. Quick Thoughts Side note — the way these bye weeks have been spaced out this season has made it feel like a strange schedule overall. I remember talking with Manny Diaz at ACC Kickoff back in July about it, and even he said the setup was bizarre. But as he reminded everyone: you’ve just got to go play the games. And that’s exactly what Duke will need to do this weekend — play a solid football game on the road. Both Duke and Clemson are coming off bye weeks and both are trying to right the ship after tough home losses. Clemson fell to SMU 35–24, while Duke dropped one to Georgia Tech 27–18. Yeah… that Georgia Tech loss still stings (and yes, I said stings lol). It really felt like a game Duke could’ve won by 15 or 20 points if not for a few early mistakes that just boggled the mind. Why It Matters You already know this one matters. Both teams are trying to turn things around before the stretch run. Clemson, sitting at 3–4, is trying to salvage what’s left of a season that’s felt like a disappointment by their own high standards. Meanwhile, Duke (4–3) is chasing bowl eligibility and trying to climb back into position for a strong finish — and yes, even a long-shot ACC Championship Game appearance isn’t totally out of the question. A win on the road at Death Valley, even against a “down” Clemson team, would be a statement. It could reset the tone for Duke’s season and remind the rest of the league that the Blue Devils aren’t going anywhere. Final Prediction FanDuel currently lists Clemson as a 3.5-point favorite with the over/under at 54.5. Look, if Clemson ever flips that switch, they still have enough talent to finish strong. But if Duke comes out with focus and avoids those early self-inflicted mistakes we’ve seen in recent weeks, this game is absolutely there for the taking. Death Valley is the last place you want to dig yourself into an early hole — so Duke will need a fast start, disciplined execution, and clean football on both sides of the ball. I expect a tough, physical game with both defenses forcing turnovers. I’m taking the under 54.5, and yes — it’s the fan in me talking — but I’m rolling with the Blue Devils to pull it out on the road. This feels like a turning-point game for Duke’s season. Duke 24 Clemson 21 Go Duke!  Duke Basketball closed out its exhibition slate a perfect 2-0, showing flashes of dominance and plenty of promise as the Blue Devils gear up for the regular season opener against Texas in Charlotte. The first tune-up came inside the friendly confines of Cameron Indoor Stadium, where Duke rolled past a Johnny Dawkins-led UCF squad, 96–71, on October 21. Freshman sensation Cameron Boozer made an instant statement with a monster 33-point, 12-rebound performance. Head coach Jon Scheyer praised his team’s effort but emphasized there’s still work to do, saying: “There is a lot we have to get better at, but I did like the competitiveness. I did like the fire that we showed. We may not be deep in terms of numbers, but I think our depth is in our versatility with the different lineups we can play.” As a fan first and media member second, it was special to see Johnny Dawkins return to Cameron, where the crowd greeted him with loud applause during a heartfelt moment at center court with Coach K and Jon Scheyer. The Brotherhood Run— which started with Bobby Hurley’s return last season—continues to be a fantastic tradition, welcoming back former Duke players now leading programs across the country. This season’s “Brotherhood” matchups continue in November when Duke hosts Niagara (coached by Greg Paulus) on Nov. 21 and Howard (coached by Kenny Blakeney) on Nov. 23. The second exhibition was anything but easy. On October 26, Duke went on the road to face a tough, physical Tennessee team inside a sold-out Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville. Watching it later myself (after a beach trip), one thing stood out loud and clear: Cameron Boozer is that dude. He stuffed the stat sheet with 24 points, 23 rebounds, six assists, two blocks, and a steal, leading Duke to an 83–76 win in a gritty battle. Isaiah Evans added 22 points, and Patrick Ngongba nearly posted a double-double with 15 points and nine rebounds — plus one of the most memorable plays of the night, diving headfirst into the crowd for a loose ball. It was the kind of hustle moment that gets Duke fans fired up and perfectly summed up the team’s fight in a tough road environment. Scheyer was pleased with how his team responded in the hostile setting, saying: “That was everything we could ask for, and more. Amazing crowd, by the way, for an exhibition game. The way their fans showed out was incredible, and that’s exactly what we wanted for our team. To put ourselves in a position, in a tough game, where we have to grow very quickly. And I think we did that.” Now, it’s on to Charlotte. Duke opens the regular season Tuesday, November 4, against Texas in the Dick Vitale Invitational. Tip-off is set for 8:45 PM — because of course, Duke’s on late again! Expect the crowd to be heavily Blue Devil–leaning, as Charlotte has always been a second home for Duke fans. After all, this is the same city where Duke cut down the nets as 2025 ACC Tournament champions just last March. This matchup with Texas kicks off a challenging non-conference slate Scheyer has assembled to prepare his team for March. The ACC should be stronger this year, but this test in Charlotte marks the start of the regular season — and a gauntlet of non-conference battles awaits ahead. A few shots I grabbed from inside Cameron during Duke’s exhibition against UCF — all taken on my iPhone. After taking off the bye week we’re back with Week 9 bowl projections from Brian Kennedy of Duke Football Talk and myself, Freddie Hodges of Duke Report. Freddie Hodges – Duke Report As I look back on Saturday’s performance, I can’t help but echo Brian’s sentiment: What if… What if Duke hadn't dug itself that early hole? The 95-yard fumble return for a Georgia Tech touchdown set a tone Duke never fully shook. What should’ve been an easy rushing score turned into a disaster. What should’ve been a routine field goal turned into another missed opportunity. Mistakes piled up, and by the time the clock hit zero, it felt like Duke had handed Georgia Tech the win gift-wrapped. It’s tough to swallow because this truly could’ve been a 20+ point Duke victory if the wheels hadn’t come off. Now, Duke sits at 4–3 overall, 3–1 in the ACC. The dream of Charlotte and an ACC Championship appearance is still alive—but that door is beginning to close. And beyond that, a top-tier bowl bid like the Pop-Tarts Bowl is becoming a distant chance. Duke isn’t even bowl eligible yet, and nothing can be assumed. With a bye week ahead, then a trip to Clemson on November 1st, followed by a resilient Virginia squad still looming on the schedule, the Blue Devils must narrow their focus to one thing: just win games. Coastal Chaos, Still Very Much Alive If you thought the old Coastal Division died, think again—it just spread across the conference.
Absolute chaos. And Duke is caught right in the middle of it. As for my bowl projection this week... I held steady with Duke to the Duke’s Mayo Bowl for weeks. Then I bumped them up to the Pop-Tarts Bowl, believing continued momentum would carry them there. But after the Georgia Tech loss, I’m shifting my projection north—all the way to Boston—for the Wasabi Fenway Bowl. Could that change? Absolutely. A win at Clemson in two weeks would shake everything up again. The ACC is unpredictable, Duke still has five games left, and if “Coastal Chaos” has taught us anything, it’s that nothing is certain—including my bowl projection. From Wallace Wade to wherever… this ride is far from over.  Brian Kennedy - Duke Football Talk Well Duke fans, Saturday's game was a game of what ifs. What if Duke had not fumbled the ball on their first drive at the one yard line? What if they had been able to score a rushing touchdown more than once? What if special teams had performed? When I am asking that many questions about a game, the turnout is what you would expect. Duke SHOULD have defeated GT, but in the end, Duke defeated themselves. Another potential program defining game, and another loss to show. As the saying goes, I am not mad anymore, I'm just disappointed. With the loss Duke falls to 4-3 on the season, but only has 1 loss in ACC play. Even crazier, Duke still has a shot, albeit a small one, to make it to Charlotte for the ACC championship. A LOT has to go Duke's way (winning their own games a must) for it to happen, but with what we have seen this season with "Coastal Chaos" anything is possible. With this loss, I have to move the Blue Devils again. As we said in last week's episode of the Section 17 podcast, Duke still has to get to 6 wins to even sniff a bowl game. Will they do it? I believe so. How many wins will they have? That is now becoming harder to forecast. With the loss, I have Duke moving from one baseball stadium, to another. Duke will head to Boston and play in the Fenway Bowl. Get more wins, and move up the ladder. Get more losses, and well, Freddie and I may be suspending this article until next year. Let's hope the later of the two scenarios does not happen! We will be taking off next week due to Duke having a bye week.. but stay tuned — Brian and I will be updating projections right here at Blue Devils Blog after the Clemson game. See you at Wallace Wade.  |
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