By Carlos Pineda
SouthernPigskin.com

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Duke’s victory in the Pinstripe Bowl gave the Blue Devils their first bowl win since 1961.

The Duke Blue Devils finished the 2015 season winners of their first bowl game since 1961.

The three-point overtime victory gave Duke eight wins for the season and marked the first time in program history that the team won eight or more games in three consecutive seasons.

The Blue Devils began the season with wins in six of their first seven games. But things went south the last week of October. They lost a highly controversial game to Miami on a kickoff return for a touchdown on the last play of the game. They would go on to lose their next three games against North Carolina, Pitt and Virginia.

One of the concerns surrounding the team this offseason is whether or not starting quarterback Thomas Sirk will be ready to go when the season kicks off. The fifth-year senior, who led the team in rushing (803 yards), ruptured his left Achilles’ tendon in February and has been rehabbing it since. At the ACC Kickoff in July, Sirk said he knew what to expect from the injury since he suffered a ruptured right tendon in 2013. Head coach David Cutcliffe said the goal is to get Sirk at 100 percent and have him ready to play his style of football by Sept. 3 and not necessarily for fall camp.

The Blue Devils lose five starters on each side of the ball, including ACC Defensive Player of the Year Jeremy Cash and Max McCaffrey, the team’s leading receiver. Offensively, they return three starters on the offensive line along with receivers T.J. Rahming and Anthony Nash.

Despite not having Cash, the secondary should be among the best in the ACC with defensive backs DeVon Edwards and Breon Borders. Edwards also serves as a huge asset on special teams. He has returned six kickoffs for touchdowns in his career.

The schedule gets a little more difficult this year as Duke goes on the road for non-conference matchups against Notre Dame and Northwestern in the last two weeks of September. Conference wise, the team goes on the road for a tough Friday night showdown at Louisville on Oct. 14. After a bye, the Blue Devils face Georgia Tech (Oct. 29) in Atlanta and Virginia Tech (Nov. 5) at home.

The toughest stretch of season ensues five days after facing the Hokies. Duke hosts North Carolina (Nov. 10) on Thursday night, followed by road games at Pitt (Nov. 19) and Miami (Nov. 26). The Tar Heels were selected the preseason favorite to win the ACC Coastal Division, with the Hurricanes and Panthers picked to finish second and third. Duke went 0-3 against the three schools last season.

2016 Schedule

Sept. 3 NC Central

Sept. 10 Wake Forest

Sept. 17 at Northwestern

Sept. 24 at Notre Dame

Oct. 1 Virginia

Oct. 8 Army

Oct. 14 at Louisville (Friday)

Oct. 29 at Georgia Tech

Nov. 5 Virginia Tech

Nov. 10 North Carolina (Thursday)

Nov. 19 at Pittsburgh

Nov. 26 at Miami