Duke’s path through the ACC just got a little clearer, and the timing couldn’t be better for the Blue Devils.
Before they even get to next week’s matchup with Miami, Duke has to handle NC State this week. But the bigger picture is hard to miss: at 6-2, the Blue Devils still have plenty on the line, including the ACC title race, and that looming showdown with the Hurricanes suddenly looks different after Miami lost its most dangerous weapon.
Star Malachi Toney suffered a high ankle sprain in practice on Wednesday and will now have surgery, a development that could keep him out next week against Duke. The usual recovery window for that kind of injury is four weeks, which would almost certainly rule him out for the game.
That’s a major blow for Miami. Toney has been the most explosive player on the roster, and his production backs that up: 73 catches for 1,027 yards and 13 touchdowns, plus six games with more than 100 all-purpose yards in eight appearances. Miami has moved him around in a variety of ways, and he’s been a central part of the Hurricanes’ offense.
The injury lands at a critical moment for Miami, too. The Hurricanes are 8-0 and sitting atop the ACC, but they’re heading into a road game against Notre Dame this week. If Miami slips there, the conference race could tighten fast, and a team like Duke could be in position to benefit.
That said, the Blue Devils still have work to do before any of that matters. They need to get past NC State first, and they also have Wake Forest later in the year, another team that currently sits ahead of them in the standings.
Still, for Duke, this is the kind of break that can change the math. The Blue Devils are trying to claw their way back into the ACC race, and if they keep winning, there’s at least a path that could put them in the College Football Playoff conversation.
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The timing only added to the buzz, with Florida State recently moving on from Mike Norvell and Diazs Florida ties making him an obvious name for outsiders to float. Diaz also acknowledged that Dukes success has created another layer of uncertainty, with speculation spilling over to players and possible transfers, but for now he made it clear where he says he wants to be. [Read more 🡒]