How did 5-loss Duke football make ACC title game? How Blue Devils made it

Duke University's football team has secured a spot in the ACC Championship game and a potential chance at a College Football Playoff berth. Despite having five losses this season, Duke's entry into the championship was clinched through a combination of their own victory and several external factors on the final day of the regular season.

Duke defeated Wake Forest 49-32, capitalizing on four turnovers to score 14 points. Key players included quarterback Darian Mensah and running backs Nate Sheppard and Anderson Castle, each contributing two touchdowns. Additionally, Miami's win over Pitt and SMU's loss to Cal, marked by a missed field goal by SMU's kicker Sam Keltner, were crucial in Duke's path to the championship.

This achievement marks Duke's first trip to the ACC Championship under head coach Manny Diaz and their first since 2013. The Blue Devils will face No. 17 Virginia, ranked No. 18 in the College Football Playoff rankings, on December