ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Duke’s first football season under Mike Elko, already decorated by his ACC coach of the year award, gained one final important bit of history on Wednesday.
Duke’s resounding 30-13 win over UCF in the Military Bowl at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium gave the Blue Devils a nine-win season, just the seventh time in school history that’s been achieved, and just the third time since 1941.
Playing in their first bowl game since 2018, the Blue Devils (9-4) used a sold running game and stout defense to carry a 16-point lead into the fourth quarter and hold off the Knights (9-5).