Duke football fans should have fond memories of the 2024 season for a long time. After all, the program’s fourth nine-win campaign since 1941 shouldn’t be taken for granted, and the Blue Devils notched some signature wins like a 20-point comeback against the North Carolina Tar Heels.
Thursday’s game against Ole Miss at the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl? Not one of those great memories.
The Blue Devils fell short in their quest for the second 10-win season in program history, allowing 589 yards of offense and surrendering four passing touchdowns to Mississippi quarterback Jaxson Dart. The Rebels reached the red zone on every possession in the first half, only failing to score on a trick-play interception on the first drive, and Duke mustered just two offensive touchdowns for the game.
While it’d be easy to rest on laurels from a season that included Duke’s first in-state sweep in a decade, head coach [autotag]Manny Diaz[/autotag] sounded uninterested in forgetting the loss after the game.
“It’s a great thing for us to unpack all offseason,” he said. “I think this game will provide tremendous fuel for our football team in our offseason program and through summer workouts.”
The Blue Devils won’t bring back stars like wide receiver Jordan Moore, but Tulane quarterback Darian Mensah and a new crop of transfers will arrive to take the reins. There may just be a chip on everyone’s shoulders at Wallace Wade Stadium next fall.