2014 Sun Bowl: The drought continues
Again in 2014, Duke came close, but again they fell. This time in the Sun Bowl, 36-31 to Arizona State. Duke had a chance to post back-to-back 10-win seasons for the first time in school history after 2013 was Duke’s first year with double-digit wins. The Blue Devils finished at 9-4 and outside the top 25.
Kalen Ballage returned a kickoff 96 yards to set up a four-yard touchdown pass from Taylor Kelly to Demario Richard with 4:45 remaining in the fourth quarter. That gave Arizona State the 36-31 lead that they would never relinquish.
That return from Ballage snuffed out the Duke comeback attempt. The Blue Devils scored 14 points in the fourth. The second touchdown came courtesy of Jamison Crowder. Crowder finished with seven catches for 102 yards but also threw a 12-yard touchdown to Issac Blakeney with 5:04 remaining to give Duke the 31-30 lead.