Duke football needs help to reach ACC title game after beating Wake Forest
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Following its Week 14 win over Wake Forest, Duke football remains in contention to play in the ACC championship game next weekend.
The Blue Devils (7-5, 6-2 ACC), who took down the Demon Deacons 49-32 on Nov. 29 to move to 8-0 against in-state opponents under Manny Diaz, have two scenarios they need to play in their favor to earn them a spot in Charlotte next weekend.
If it hopes to play in the ACC championship game, Duke will be looking for Cal to beat SMU or Virginia Tech to beat Virginia. Virginia vs. Virginia Tech kicked off at 7 p.m. ET while Cal and SMU kicked off an hour later at 8 p.m. ET.
Duke already got one assist: Pitt fell to Miami earlier Saturday, 38-7.
Entering Week 14, Duke is one of four two-loss teams in the conference. Virginia and SMU entered the week as the two one-loss teams remaining.
“It’s neat to be on Thanksgiving Saturday and to have some scenario,” Diaz said postgame. “But if you ask me if I’ll be holding my breath, I’m not.”
With their work done, the Blue Devils will now watch and wait.
“I’m going to watch SMU,” linebacker Luke Mergott said following the Wake Forest game. “Go Cal, I’m rooting for those boys.”
“We’ve got a decent chance of slipping in the championship game, so, I’m rooting for them (Cal) as well.” quarterback Darian Mensah added.
The ACC title game is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 6 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. If Duke were to make it, it’d be looking to win its first ACC championship since 1989 and eighth overall.
“We’re enjoying the win, but we also understand there’s a possibility we’re in Charlotte next week,” wide receiver Sahmir Hagans said.
Anna Snyder covers Duke for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at asnyder@usatodayco.com or follow her @annaesnydr on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Duke football stays alive in ACC title hunt with win over Wake Forest
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