Duke has dealt with more adversity than most over the last several seasons but always found a way to make it to a bowl game.
While the adversity has continued into 2016, the bowl streak might not. The Blue Devils (3-6 overall, 0-5 ACC) go into their rivalry game against No. 21 North Carolina (7-2, 5-1) on Thursday night needing to win out to become bowl eligible.
That marks quite the departure from the last four years, when Duke had already clinched bowl eligibility at this point of the season. But injuries to key starters, a more difficult schedule and excruciatingly close losses have put the players in an unrecognizable situation.