Duke will face Arizona State on Wednesday in the Sun Bowl after the Blue Devils’ ACC championship run fell short of earning a College Football Playoff spot.
The Blue Devils captured their first conference title with a 27-20 overtime victory over Virginia. But the win wasn’t enough to secure one of the 12 playoff positions.
Duke finished 8-5 and watched as a second Group of Five team earned a playoff spot instead of the ACC champions.
Defensive tackle Aaron Hall said the team quickly understood their postseason fate after the title game. “The ACC title is definitely up there,” Hall said. “But the joy of that has faded a little bit. You’re always hungry for the next thing.”
The Blue Devils now set their sights on ending the season with a Sun Bowl victory in El Paso.
“There’s a sentiment in college football that the Sun Bowl’s hospitality is unmatched across the bowl landscape, and our welcome here backs that up.”
Arizona State brings an 8-4 record into the matchup. The Sun Devils won the Big 12 last season and nearly upset Texas in the playoff quarterfinals.
This marks the second meeting between the programs. Arizona State won their previous Sun Bowl encounter 36-31 eleven years ago.
Duke’s path to the ACC title game came through unusual circumstances. A five-way tie for second place in the conference allowed the Blue Devils into the championship despite Miami being the league’s highest-ranked team.
Miami earned a playoff spot and defeated Texas A&M in the first round. The Hurricanes will play Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl just hours after Duke takes the field.
Head coach Manny Diaz believes the playoff snub could benefit the program long-term. “There’s still a little frustration in this team,” Diaz said. “Some things were out of our control. Hopefully, that feeling pushes us going into next year.”
Coaching Changes and Key Players
Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham will coach his first game since signing a five-year extension worth an average of $7.5 million per season.
The Sun Devils will be without starting quarterback Sam Leavitt, who suffered a season-ending foot injury and entered the transfer portal. Jeff Sims, a former Georgia Tech and Nebraska quarterback, will start in his place.
Duke quarterback Darian Mensah threw for a school-record 30 touchdowns this season. He’s expected to play despite speculation about his NFL future.
Arizona State will miss star receiver Jordyn Tyson and running back Raleek Brown for the bowl game.
Both teams enter with playoff dreams behind them. The Sun Bowl represents a chance to build momentum heading into 2026 and finish the season on a positive note.
