CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. — In just nine games as a head coach, Mike Elko returned Duke to football respectability and postseason play.
The Blue Devils beat Boston College, 38-31, on Friday night at Alumni Stadium, riding their reliably potent rushing offense to the team’s sixth win of the season and bowl eligibility for the first time since 2018.
Since beating Temple, 57-24, in the 2018 Independence Bowl in quarterback Daniel Jones’ final game before he left early for the NFL, the Blue Devils suffered through three consecutive losing seasons. A 5-7 record in 2019 left them one win shy of a bowl game before the bottom fell out with 2-9 and 3-9 records over the last two seasons.
