Despite a setback on Saturday in the upset loss to Georgia Tech, Duke is still on track to play in its fifth straight bowl game for the first time in program history. The Blue Devils finished last season with an ACC title and a Sun Bowl win over Arizona State, their sixth bowl win in their last seven attempts.
Almost halfway through the 2026 season, bowl projections for Manny Diaz’s squad are wide-ranging, from a return trip to El Paso to a short bus ride to Charlotte to playing in Yankee Stadium the day after Christmas.
Here is where national publications currently have the Blue Devils spending the postseason.
USA TODAY Sports
Sun Bowl: vs. Washington
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Sun Bowl Stadium, El Paso, Texas (December 31, 2026)
ESPN
Kyle Bonagura
Duke’s Mayo Bowl: vs. Penn State
Mark Schlabach
Duke’s Mayo Bowl: vs. Northwestern
Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC (December 26, 2026)
Sports Illustrated
Birmingham Bowl: vs. Mississippi State
Protective Stadium, Birmingham, AL (December 29, 2026)
CBS Sports
Pinstripe Bowl: vs. Northwestern
Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY (December 26, 2026)
“Duke and Northwestern at Yankee Stadium? There are worse ways to spend the holidays than watching two Power Four teams that deserve more attention than they’re getting through the first half of the season. These aren’t the brands driving playoff debates, but they’re a combined 8-2 this season despite economic challenges. There’s value in exceeding expectations, and thus far, Manny Diaz and David Braun should be applauded for what they’ve done. Next week’s rivalry bout with North Carolina is critical for the Blue Devils, who suffered their first loss of the season Saturday at Georgia Tech.” – Brad Crawford
This article originally appeared on Duke Wire: National bowl projections for Duke football following Week 6