Despite a gut-punch upset loss to Georgia Tech just last Saturday, Duke football is still on a collision course with history: they are tracking for their fifth straight bowl game, a first for the program. That’s a huge deal for Manny Diaz’s squad, who are almost halfway through the 2026 season and showing they can hang tough even after a setback. Remember last season? They snagged an ACC title and then smashed Arizona State in the Sun Bowl. That was their sixth bowl win in their last seven tries, so these guys know how to finish strong.
Where Could Duke Be Headed?
Right now, the national bowl projections for Duke are all over the map, which is pretty wild. We’re talking about everything from a return trip to El Paso to a quick bus ride to Charlotte, or even playing right in Yankee Stadium. It just shows you how many different ways this season could still go for the Blue Devils.
USA TODAY Sports has them going to the Sun Bowl again, facing off against Washington in El Paso, Texas, on December 31. ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura and Mark Schlabach both like the Duke’s Mayo Bowl for them, with Bonagura projecting a matchup against Penn State and Schlabach predicting Northwestern, both in Charlotte, North Carolina, on December 26. Sports Illustrated sees them in the Birmingham Bowl, taking on Mississippi State in Birmingham, Alabama, on December 29.
A Pinstripe Bowl Shoutout and What’s Next
CBS Sports throws a curveball, putting Duke in the Pinstripe Bowl against Northwestern at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York, on December 26. Brad Crawford from CBS Sports laid it out perfectly, saying, “Duke and Northwestern at Yankee Stadium? There are worse ways to spend the holidays than watching two Power Four teams that deserve more attention than they’re getting through the first half of the season. These aren’t the brands driving playoff debates, but they’re a combined 8-2 this season despite economic challenges. There’s value in exceeding expectations, and thus far, Manny Diaz and David Braun should be applauded for what they’ve done.” That’s high praise for exceeding expectations, even after that first loss to Georgia Tech.
What’s on deck? Next week’s rivalry bout with North Carolina. That game is absolutely critical for the Blue Devils. After taking their first loss this past Saturday, a win against a rival like UNC could totally reset their momentum and solidify their spot for a big bowl game. You know Manny Diaz will have them fired up for that one!
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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