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Duke football hoping to develop bright future in 2020

By Michael Hanich

DURHAM, NC - SEPTEMBER 02: Quarterback Quentin Harris #18 and wide receiver Quay Chambers #19 of the Duke Blue Devils celebrate following a touchdown against the North Carolina Central Eagles during the football game at Wallace Wade Stadium on September 2, 2017 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Mike Comer/Getty Images)
DURHAM, NC - SEPTEMBER 02: Quarterback Quentin Harris #18 and wide receiver Quay Chambers #19 of the Duke Blue Devils celebrate following a touchdown against the North Carolina Central Eagles during the football game at Wallace Wade Stadium on September 2, 2017 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Mike Comer/Getty Images) /
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Duke football has a chance to develop themselves into a contender for the Coastal Division thanks to some transfers but they need to be developed right.

It is difficult for a program like Duke so devoted to winning championships in the sport of college basketball has a consistent football program. After having a moderately successful season in 2018, the Blue Devils regressed to under a .500 performance this past season.

In 2019, the Blue Devils finished with a 5-7 record and were 3-5 in the ACC. They started the first half of the season with a 4-2 record, including a big 45-10 win at Virginia Tech. Duke then suffered a five-game losing streak, followed by a surprising 27-17 home win over Miami.

Consistency was the problem with the Blue Devils last season as they needed to replace multiple key starters on both sides of the ball and were down in the turnover ratio.

The Blue Devils failed to make it to their 15th postseason bowl game in program history and their third straight bowl. Before head coach David Cutcliffe took over the program in 2008, the Blue Devils only had made it to eight bowl games. They have also never made consecutive bowl appearances in program history.

Cutcliffe has accumulated an overall record of 72-79, six bowl appearances, five winning seasons and a Coastal division title in 2013. In the last three seasons, the Blue Devils have a 20-18 record and are just 9-15 in ACC play.

If the Blue Devils are wanting to be taken seriously by the ACC, they will need to be more consistent in conference play. There will be plenty of chances to do so with the talented roster they have coming back for the 2020 season.

This season is also a great opportunity for Duke to prove itself as a viable threat in the ACC as the league will be looking to play conference-only schedules.

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