Blue Devils look forward to epic challenge
Duke has accomplished quite a bit in recent weeks, becoming bowl eligible and defeating a neighboring rival.
But Saturday night’s assignment at undefeated Clemson creates the chance for a shocking result that would certainly please the Blue Devils as the season winds down.
“We expect to compete with any team we play against,” sophomore defensive end Victor Dimukeje said.
The mindset for the Blue Devils (7-3, 3-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) is that this is a challenge that they should embrace.
“We’re going in there ready to win, expecting to win,” offensive tackle Christian Harris said.
Duke doesn’t play Clemson annually any more in the ACC’s two-division set-up. The Blue Devils last posted a road victory against the Tigers in 1980.
Yet in recent years, Duke has become stronger, rolling up a 20-12 record in its last 32 road games.
Clemson needs to win to avoid damage to its College Football Playoff status, so Duke doesn’t have that pressure hanging over it.
“This is what we play for,” quarterback Daniel Jones said. “It’s a huge opportunity. … We’re confident that we’ll make the most of it.”
While Clemson is regularly in these games in the spotlight, Duke has appeared in a couple of prime-time matchups this autumn on Saturday nights. Those include a home loss to Virginia Tech and a road victory at Miami.
Duke coach David Cutcliffe it’s a great situation to be on this type of stage.
“This is the test that every one of us look for,” said Cutcliffe, whose team will face an opponent listed in the national rankings at the time of the meeting for the first time this year.
The Blue Devils have never defeated a team ranked among the top three nationally. The last conquering of a Top 10 team by the Blue Devils came by knocking off then-No. 7 Clemson in 1989.
Duke might be without its top two tacklers. Linebacker Joe Giles-Harris missed the North Carolina game with an injury, while safety Dylan Singleton sustained a broken ankle against North Carolina and underwent surgery.
Those developments led to redshirt sophomore linebacker Brandon Hill’s first career start, and he made 10 tackles against North Carolina. For the Clemson game, redshirt freshman Lummie Young IV will get the call in place of Singleton.
Duke has reached the seven-win mark in the regular season for the first time since 2015. The Blue Devils have slowly made progress in late-season games, with a 13-10 record in November games in the past six-plus seasons.