Duke locked up their bowl game bid for the fifth straight season, a program record, after absolutely steamrolling Boston College 47-2 on Saturday at Wallace Wade Stadium. This isn’t just about bowl eligibility, though, it’s about a team at 6-2 under Manny Diaz that’s starting to make some serious noise again, creeping right back up the US LBM Coaches Poll. They’re sitting just outside the Top 25 right now with 76 votes, and honestly, after Saturday’s performance, it’s no wonder.
Sheppard Goes Absolutely Off, Defense Shuts ‘Em Down
If you missed Nate Sheppard on Saturday, you missed something special. The man was an absolute machine, rushing for a mind-blowing five touchdowns. Are you kidding me? That’s a new single-game record for Duke, and talk about making a statement! As if that wasn’t enough, he also bagged his 18th total touchdown of the season, which is another program record. This dude is on another level right now, and the entire league is gonna have to take notice. While Sheppard was doing his thing, the defense wasn’t just chilling, either. They were *relentless* against Mason McKenzie and the Eagles’ offense, holding them to a big fat zero points. Boston College’s only two points came on a fluke play, a return of a blocked extra-point attempt. That’s how dominant Duke’s D was.
Back On The Top 25 Radar
This isn’t the first time Duke has flirted with the Top 25 this season. They actually spent two weeks ranked earlier after starting the year on a red-hot 4-0 run. They slipped out after a couple of tough losses, but now they’re right back in the conversation. That 47-2 victory pushed them to 6-2 and clearly caught the eyes of the Coaches Poll voters, jumping them up to 76 votes in Sunday’s rankings. That puts them right alongside UTSA with 76 votes, just behind Florida (81 votes) and South Carolina (91 votes) in the “Others Receiving Votes” category. Miami (FL) is still sitting pretty at number one with an 8-0 record, followed by Georgia and Indiana. But honestly, the real story here is Duke clawing their way back, showing they’re not just a flash in the pan.
This team is hitting their stride, especially with Sheppard doing everything but selling popcorn. They’ve punched their bowl ticket, they’re sitting at 6-2, and they are *right there* on the cusp of the Top 25. The momentum is real, and it’s gonna be awesome to see if they can keep this energy going and force their way into the rankings. You gotta love watching a team put it all together when it matters.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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