Duke’s latest win did more than push the Blue Devils to bowl eligibility for the fifth straight season. It also sent them into the national projection cycle with a range of possible destinations, from the Northeast to the West Coast.
The Blue Devils earned that postseason status with a 47-2 victory over Boston College this past Saturday. Nate Sheppard powered the offense with a school-record five touchdowns, while Duke’s defense kept the Eagles out of the end zone. Boston College’s only two points came on a returned blocked extra-point attempt.
Now the guessing game begins, and the projections are spread all over the map.
USA TODAY Sports has Duke facing Arizona in the Sun Bowl on Thursday, Dec. 31, at 2 p.m. ET at Sun Bowl Stadium in El Paso, Texas.
ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura slots Duke against Nebraska in the Pinstripe Bowl on Saturday, Dec. 26, at 12 p.m. ET in Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York.
ESPN’s Mark Schlabach also has Duke matched with Nebraska, though in a different spot: the Duke’s Mayo Bowl on Saturday, Dec. 26, at 3:30 p.m. ET at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.
CBS Sports projects Duke against South Florida in the Gasparilla Bowl on Friday, Dec. 18, at 2:30 p.m. ET at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.
Sports Illustrated has the Blue Devils taking on Wisconsin in the Pinstripe Bowl on Saturday, Dec. 26, at 12 p.m. ET in Yankee Stadium.
On3 goes with Duke and Oregon in the Holiday Bowl on Monday, Dec. 28, at 5:00 p.m. ET at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, California.
With the regular season now moving toward its finish, Duke’s bowl path remains open - and the projections reflect just how many different directions it could still go.
In Other News...
Duke Now Faces Anxious NCAA Wait After Painful ACC Exit
Dukes ACC Championship run ended in frustrating fashion with a 2-1 quarterfinal loss to Boston College, a result that left the Blue Devils with more waiting than celebrating as the postseason picture takes shape. Shae Wozniak provided Dukes lone goal, finishing a setup from Juliette Schulten, but it was not enough to keep the Blue Devils moving deeper into the conference tournament.
Now the focus shifts to the NCAA Championship announcement, where Duke will learn whether its season continues after finishing 12-5. The Blue Devils have done enough over the course of the year to stay in the conversation, but after a painful exit in the ACC bracket, there is no certainty yet about what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Manny Diaz Just Gave Duke Fans A Reason To Exhale
Dukes rise under Manny Diaz has naturally put the program back in the middle of the coaching rumor mill, and this week the head coach took a direct swing at the noise. Diaz addressed speculation that had linked him to other openings, including Florida State, and said he is happy at Duke, brushing aside the internet chatter that tends to follow any coach whose team starts drawing attention.
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 🡒]
Duke Opened With A Bigger Toby Fournier Concern Than Fans Wanted
Duke opened the season with a result that should have offered some comfort, but the bigger concern was sitting on the sideline. Star forward Toby Fournier missed the opener against Green Bay because of a lower leg injury, and there is still no set timetable for her return, leaving the Blue Devils to navigate the early part of the schedule without one of their most important players.
The good news was a 76-60 win, powered by senior Riley Nelson and junior Arianna Roberson with 15 points apiece, but the injury situation looms larger than one November victory. Coach Kara Lawson said she hopes Fournier can get back soon, and with tougher games ahead, Duke will need both the depth it showed in the opener and a clearer picture of when its star forward might be available again. [Read more 🡒]