The Duke Blue Devils football team found themselves smack in the middle of controversy after the College Football Playoff (CFP) selection committee announced its picks. Even though Duke clinched the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) championship, their 8-5 record wasn’t enough to land them in the 12-team playoff field.
The news set off a wave of debate about how the committee makes its choices. Coach Manny Diaz and his team, clearly frustrated, are channeling that disappointment as they get ready for their Sun Bowl matchup against Arizona State.
The ACC Championship Victory
The Blue Devils pulled off their first outright ACC title since 1962, edging out No. 16 Virginia in overtime. Darian Mensah found Jeremiah Hasley for a 1-yard touchdown on fourth down, sealing a 27-20 win and catching a lot of folks off guard.
That win mattered, especially with the ACC’s shaky status in the CFP conversation. It was a big moment for Duke, no question.
The Road to the Championship
Getting to the ACC championship wasn’t easy for Duke. They took five losses against tough teams like Illinois, Tulane, Georgia Tech, UConn, and Virginia.
Still, the Blue Devils hung in there and fought back, grabbing their spot in the ACC title game thanks to a tiebreaker. Some folks weren’t thrilled about how that played out, calling the tiebreaker “bogus.”
The College Football Playoff Snub
After their ACC win, the Blue Devils gathered in Durham to watch the CFP selection show. Coach Diaz made his pitch for Duke, pointing to their tough schedule compared to teams like Sun Belt champ James Madison.
But the committee didn’t even put Duke in its final top 25. Just like that, they were out of the playoff mix.
The Selection Committee’s Decision
The CFP committee’s move to leave Duke out drew plenty of criticism. James Madison, sitting at No. 24, snagged the last guaranteed spot for conference champs, while Duke sat on the outside looking in.
The top four seeds ended up being Big Ten champ Indiana, Big Ten runner-up Ohio State, SEC champ Georgia, and Big 12 champ Texas Tech. Those teams got byes straight to the quarterfinals.
Coach Manny Diaz’s Response
Coach Diaz didn’t hide his disappointment. He argued that Duke’s tough schedule should have counted for more.
Most of Duke’s losses came against solid teams, and Diaz thought that ought to matter. Even so, he’s trying to keep things positive and help his team learn from the experience.
Building a Big-Time Program
Diaz is all about building something big, win or lose. He keeps telling his players they’re champions, no matter what the committee says.
Now, it’s all eyes on the Sun Bowl against Arizona State. The playoff snub? It’s just more fuel for the fire.
The Implications for College Football
Duke’s exclusion has folks asking tough questions about how the CFP committee operates. Is the process really fair? Does it make sense?
Fans and analysts are calling for a better, more transparent system. The debate probably isn’t going away anytime soon.
The Future of the CFP
With college football always changing, the CFP selection process might need some tweaks. Maybe it’s time to rethink how conference champs and strength of schedule get weighed.
Ideally, the system should recognize what teams actually accomplish, right?
Looking Ahead: The Sun Bowl
Missing the College Football Playoff stings, but Duke’s got one more shot to end the season on a good note. They’ll take on Arizona State in the Sun Bowl on December 31 in El Paso, Texas.
CBS is airing the game, so plenty of eyes will be on the Blue Devils as they try to show what they’re made of.
Preparing for the Sun Bowl
Coach Diaz and the team are taking a breather for final exams and a little rest before locking in on Sun Bowl prep. Nobody’s hiding the fact that missing the playoff stings, but it’s motivation now.
Diaz’s message? They’re still champions, and they’ve got one more chance to prove it on the field.
Conclusion
The Duke Blue Devils’ exclusion from the College Football Playoff has really stirred up debates. It’s got a lot of folks questioning whether the selection process needs a serious overhaul.
Coach Manny Diaz and his team aren’t letting the disappointment drag them down. Instead, they’re trying to focus on the positives and channel that frustration into motivation for the upcoming Sun Bowl game against Arizona State.
If you’re curious and want more details, you can check out the full article on WRAL Sports by clicking here.
- Schools Covered
- College Football Articles
- Men's College Basketball Articles
- Men's College Soccer Articles
- Women's College Basketball Articles
- Olympic Athlete Articles
- Men's College Baseball Articles
- College Sports Media Professionals Articles
- Hall of Fame Member Articles
- Former College Player Articles
- Game Previews
