Wake Forest's story is almost a mirror image. Jake Dickert's first season in Winston-Salem produced 9 wins and a Duke's Mayo Bowl victory over Mississippi State — one of just 4 nine-win seasons in school history. But the Deacons lost All-ACC running back Demond Claiborne and their top 4 offensive linemen off a group that ranked 21st nationally in sacks allowed. LSU tackle Ethan Calloway and a handful of other transfers are being counted on to hold up immediately.
This series has history worth knowing: Duke leads the all-time meetings 62-41-2, dating back to their very first game in 1889. There's no rivalry trophy on the line like Duke-UNC's Victory Bell, but neither program is treating this as a throwaway — both are chasing bowl positioning and, in Duke's case, another ACC title push.
The swing factor is which rebuilt group holds up better under the lights. Duke's defense gives it a floor even while the offense finds its footing without Mensah and Barkate. Wake Forest needs its new-look line to protect the passing game now that the ground attack lost its workhorse. Whoever wins that trench battle probably wins the game.