Duke football ranked No. 22, enters AP Top 25 for first time since 2015

For the first time in nearly three years, Duke made an appearance in the AP Top 25 Poll.

The Blue Devils (4-0) checked in at No. 22, surpassing previously ranked Boston College, TCU and Virginia Tech. 

Head coach David Cutcliffe’s bunch’s last appearance in the AP poll came on Oct. 25, 2015, when the Blue Devils were ranked No. 22 following a thrilling 45-43 triple overtime triumph at Virginia Tech. Duke, which was 6-1 at the time, quickly saw their season spiral downward after that contest. The Blue Devils dropped their subsequent four games, starting with Miami’s game-winning kickoff return touchdown with no time remaining, perhaps the most heartbreaking moment in recent Duke football memory.

On Saturday, the Blue Devils easily defeated crosstown rival N.C. Central 55-13, securing a perfect record in nonconference play for the second consecutive season. Duke's first ACC opponent will be Virginia Tech, which will travel to Durham this week. The Hokies plummeted from No. 13 to unranked after suffering an embarrassing 49-35 upset at the hands of Old Dominion, a team that failed to beat any of its first three opponents.

After hosting Virginia Tech, the Blue Devils will enter their bye week, before returning to ACC play when Duke will travel to Georgia Tech. The rest will be readily welcomed by the Blue Devils, as Duke’s ranking is even more impressive considering the litany of injuries that have plagued the squad. Most notably, three-year starting quarterback Daniel Jones seems poised to make a return from the clavicle injury he sustained Week 2 within the next few weeks.