From Wallace Wade to Wherever: Duke's Bowl Watch - Week 2

We’re back with Week 2 bowl projections from Brian Kennedy of Duke Football Talk and myself, Freddie Hodges of Duke Report.

​Freddie Hodges - Duke Report

The Blue Devils opened the season under the lights last Thursday at Wallace Wade with a 45–17 win over Elon. The first half? Let’s be honest… a little too close for comfort as Duke went into the locker room tied up. The second half? A whole different story. Freshman QB Darian Mensah put on a show, torching Elon for 389 passing yards this game and three touchdowns. Once the rust came off, the Devils looked like a team ready to roll.

But here’s the thing: Elon is in the rearview. Now it’s go-time. Duke welcomes #11 Illinois to Wallace Wade this Saturday at noon. And if the Devils want to make a statement, they’ve got to start fast and play a complete four quarters. Offense, defense, special teams — all of it. Pack your coffee, grab your Blue Devil gear, and let’s fill Wallace Wade early because this is a massive September showdown.

Around the ACC…

Week 1 was chaos in the ACC, and it already feels like the bowl picture is wide open.

• UNC fans… y’all good? Rough start to the Bill Belichick era in Chapel Hill.
• Florida State — are they back? A huge upset over Alabama says maybe.
• Clemson? LSU snatched the “Death Valley” crown in primetime. (Side note: the real Death Valley is in California. I hiked it last summer in 100+ heat… trust me, it’s no joke).
• Louisville, Georgia Tech, Pitt — all chalked up solid wins.

​So what does all that mean for Duke? There’s a traffic jam forming at the top of the ACC. A lot of good teams are jostling for position, and the Devils are right there in the mix.


This Week’s Bowl Projection

For now, I’m keeping Duke close to home in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl in Charlotte. But let’s be real — this Illinois game could swing projections in a big way. Beat a top-15 Big Ten team at home? Suddenly the ceiling raises. Take a loss? We’re still in great shape, but it changes the math.

Either way, buckle up, Duke fans. The ride’s just getting started. Week 1 gave us a taste. Week 2 could tell us a whole lot more about where this season is headed.

Brian Kennedy - Duke Football Talk

Duke fans, the 2025 football season is officially underway! The opener Thursday night felt like a tale of two halves (Dickens, anyone?), but when it mattered most, the Duke team we all expected showed up. The 45-17 score may look convincing in the score box, but it was anything but in the first half. What felt like shades of 2024’s season opener against Elon had me nervous heading into halftime. Thankfully, Duke eased those worries with a dominant second-half performance.

Now, all eyes turn to this weekend as #11 Illinois rolls into Wallace Wade. As I said on the Section 17 podcast, Duke MUST start fast—on offense and defense. A sluggish start could spell disaster and derail any hopes of a 2-0 start. So do whatever it takes to be in the stands for the 12 noon kickoff—and don’t forget to wear BLUE!

As for my bowl prediction: despite the rocky start, Duke came out on top. Last year’s team had a similar opener and still made it to the Gator Bowl. So for now, I’m sticking with my pick—Duke to the Pop-Tarts Bowl in Orlando. But make no mistake, this weekend’s game could shift the outlook dramatically.

Let’s pack Wallace Wade and beat Illinois!

Stay tuned — Brian and I will be updating projections every week right here at Blue Devils Blog. See you at Wallace Wade.