USA TODAY Sports’ Erick Smith released some updated college football bowl projections on Tuesday, and the undefeated Duke Blue Devils drew a new assignment for the first time in weeks.
After three straight weeks in the Gasparilla Bowl against South Florida, the Blue Devils were promoted to a Holiday Bowl assignment against Washington State.
Duke, one of the four remaining unbeaten teams in the ACC, beat Middle Tennessee 45-17 on Saturday to clinch its second straight 4-0 start. First-year coach [autotag]Manny Diaz[/autotag] and his team host the rival North Carolina Tar Heels, including Diaz’s former boss, in Durham this weekend to open ACC play.
The Cougars, who are also undefeated, stunned the Washington Huskies for a 24-19 victory in Week 3. Washington State also overcame a 38-24 lead in the fourth quarter against San Jose State on Saturday, scoring 22 points in the final 14 minutes to force overtime before completing the comeback in extra time.
Smith put two ACC teams, the Clemson Tigers and the Miami Hurricanes, in the 12-team College Football Playoff bracket with Miami earning the first-round bye as conference champion.