Duke's final game might as well be a bowl

Turns out, Duke is going to a bowl game after all. It’s Saturday, in Kenan Stadium, against North Carolina. For the 3-8 Blue Devils, this final game is all they have left.

“It means everything,” Duke cornerback Ross Cockrell said. “This is our bowl game. We want to go out this season on top. We’d rather go into the offseason with a win than a loss.”

This will also be the final game for Duke’s seniors, and Duke coach David Cutcliffe commended the work of this senior class, recruited in large part by his predecessor, Ted Roof. Beset by injuries, Duke is down to only four senior starters for Saturday’s game: wide receiver Donovan Varner

“Their leadership, and their legacy, will be one not quite what we wanted in wins, but their legacy will be resiliency,” Cutcliffe said. “Their legacy will be that they have shown every young player on this squad, regardless of the out come of the game -- because they haven’t changed when we won either -- they came to work Sunday night, Tuesday, etc. etc. I’m very appreciative of those seniors.”

There are some tangible potential benefits for the Blue Devils: With a win, both teams will be tied at 2-6 in the ACC, with Duke holding the head-to-head advantage. There’s even a trophy, like any bowl would offer: The Victory Bell, which North Carolina has taken home seven straight times and 20 of the past 21.

“It’s shocking that we haven’t beaten them for so long,” Cockrell said. “Our goal for this week is to shock the world and ring the bell.”