Duke falls in season finale 47-10 to Miami to finish winless in ACC play
Posted November 27, 2021 2:20 p.m. EST
Updated November 27, 2021 11:00 p.m. EST
 Miami Hurricanes |
47 |
 Duke Blue Devils |
10 |
| Final | |
Duke completed something it did not want to ever do again when it fell 47-10 at home to Miami (7-5) in its regular-season finale — a winless ACC season.
Duke (3-9, 0-8 ACC) started the season 3-1 and had won three in a row entering ACC play. The 2020 season had wreaked havoc on the program, as it did others too, but Duke finished 2-9 and had 39 turnovers. It seemed as if Duke was going to turn it around this season.
It was not to be for head coach David Cutcliffe and his team, which finished winless in ACC play since the 2007 season — the year before he was hired in Durham.
Cutcliffe brought this program up from the depths. The program's peak saw it playing in the ACC title game. The program's steadying out into a solid one saw it going to bowl games every year.
But the last few years have not worked out that way.
Duke's last bowl game appearance came in 2018. In 2019, Duke went 5-7, narrowly missing a bowl. And Duke had gone to bowl games the previous two seasons after missing one in 2016.
Duke had won four games from 2004-07. It won four in Cutcliffe's first season, then went 3-9 twice, then 6-7 before its Coastal Division-winning season in 2013.
From 2013-18, Duke went to a bowl game in all but one season and got to eight or more wins four times in six seasons.
But from 2019-21, Duke has won a total of 10 games (five of those came in 2019) and lost 25.
It has now lost 13 straight ACC games dating back to last year.
The game against Miami started out the way most Duke games have — close. Duke even led 3-0 and 10-3 after a 94-yard kickoff return by Jaylen Stinson with 8:25 to go in the first quarter.
But Duke would not score again.
Miami out-gained Duke 530 yards to 219. Miami gained over 100 more passing yards (390) than Duke had total.
Duke averaged 3.0 yards per play to 6.0 for Miami.
Duke quarterback Gunnar Holmberg completed 20 of 33 passes for 148 yards, no touchdowns and one interception. Duke tailback Mataeo Durant did become Duke's all-time career rusher, gaining 68 yards on 22 attempts.
Miami quarterback Tyler Van Dyke completed 34 of 49 passes for 381 yards and three touchdowns. Jaylan Knighton ran for 51 yards and a score, while Thad Franklin Jr. added 45 yards and a score.
Mike Harley had 96 yards on 13 catches for Miami, while Charleston Rambo added eight catches for 101 yards and two scores.
Miami will wait to find out its bowl game assignment next weekend, while Duke will wait to see what the future holds for this program.
