Duke football opt-out tracker for Sun Bowl vs Arizona State

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Duke football is gearing up for its Sun Bowl matchup with Arizona State on Dec. 31, but the Blue Devils might be without some key pieces.

Head coach Manny Diaz said he gave the group a week off following its ACC championship win over Virginia on Dec. 6, claiming the program’s eighth-overall ACC title and first outright since 1962. Diaz said the Blue Devils got back to work at the beginning of the week of Dec. 15 ahead of their fourth-consecutive bowl appearance. Duke is set to face Arizona State in the Sun Bowl on Dec. 31 in El Paso, Texas.

Since the ACC championship game, roster movement has begun. Duke has had four players announce their intentions to enter the transfer portal as of Dec. 18: RB Peyton Jones, S Maliki Wright, CB Vontae Floyd and TE Vance Bolyard. Additionally, three players have declared for the NFL Draft: OL Brian Parker II, DE Wesley Williams and CB Chandler Rivers.

“Of the team that celebrated in Charlotte, we’ve had everybody participating fully through this entire week, except for the three: (Brian) Parker II, (Chandler) Rivers and VJ Anthony,” Diaz said on Dec. 18.

“Everybody else that was in Charlotte that’s been participating fully, we expect to have available for the game in El Paso.”

Here is tracking who will suit up for the Blue Devils in their bowl game:

Brian Parker II opts out of Sun Bowl

With his departure to the NFL, Brian Parker II will forgo his final year of eligibility and instead enter the 2026 NFL Draft. This move also means the All-American will miss Duke’s bowl game vs. Arizona State.

Manny Diaz says Wesley Williams practicing, expects to play in bowl

Another draft departure, defensive end Wesley Williams, has been practicing and is planning to play on New Years Eve, Diaz said.

“Wes is participating and expects to play in the bowl game,” Diaz said.

Manny Diaz says three players not participating fully ahead of Sun Bowl

Chandler Rivers, Brian Parker II and Vincent Anthony Jr. are the three Blue Devils Diaz said were not participating fully leading into Duke football’s Sun Bowl matchup vs. Arizona State.

When does Duke football play Arizona State in Sun Bowl?

The Blue Devils play the Sun Devils in 92nd edition of the Sun Bowl on Wednesday, Dec. 31, at Sun Bowl Stadium in El Paso, Texas.

Duke football vs Arizona State prediction

Duke 31, Arizona State 24: Duke will look to carry its late-season momentum into El Paso, coming off its first ACC title in decades. It will be up against an Arizona State team that has been led by backup quarterback Jeff Sims as Sam Leavitt has been out with a foot injury. Sims is a former Georgia Tech quarterback that is 3-0 all-time against Duke. Arizona State has its fair share of bright spots, but the Blue Devils bring momentum.

Duke vs Arizona State tickets

You can find bowl game tickets for Duke football vs. Arizona State on StubHub.

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 opt-out tracker for Sun Bowl vs Arizona State: Updates

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