Duke (9-4) fell by a final of 36-31 to No. 15 Arizona State (10-3) in the Hyundai Sun Bowl as the Blue Devils' late comeback attempt fell just short.
The Blue Devils avoided posting a second 10-win season, which would have been just the second in program history (after last year's), while Arizona State bounced back from a disappointing end of the regular season to hold on after a strong start and get the win.
Here are four observations from the Sun Bowl:
1. HEARTBREAK AGAIN FOR THE BLUE DEVILS
David Cutcliffe has completely overhauled Duke's program and made it into a consistent one in the ACC, winner of 19 games over the past two seasons and 25 over the last three. He took the Blue Devils to a bowl game for the third straight year this year, something that had never been done in program history.
Duke won the Coastal Division last year and had it within its grasp this year until the end.
But Cutcliffe has been among the first to say -- and he's said it over and over again in the last two seasons -- that the next step for Duke is to end its season with a win in a bowl game.
Duke had the lead, for a brief moment, in this one -- quite literally brief, as Duke led 31-30 with 5:03 to go in the game, having erased a deficit and then gave up a 96-yard kickoff return that set up an Arizona State 4-yard rushing touchdown with 4:45 to go.
In past bowl losses to Cincinnati in 2012 and Texas A&M in 2013, Duke had leads -- 16-0 against the Bearcats early and 31-27 early in the fourth, only to allow a 21-3 run. Last year against Johnny Manziel and company, it was 21-3 in the second, 38-17 at halftime and 48-38 with 6:46 to go -- only to allow 14 unanswered in the final 5:44 to see it end in heartbreak.
This year, instead of losing the lead, Duke trailed 20-3 in the second and 30-17 in the late fourth, only to storm back in the fourth and take a one-point lead.
But just like last year, it ended in heartbreak when Duke had the ball last with a chance to win it -- last year's final drive ended at the Texas A&M 38-yard line, and this one ended at the Arizona State 14-yard line, as an Anthony Boone would-be touchdown pass to Jamison Crowder was picked off by Arizona State's Kweishi Brown with 45 seconds remaining.
Both ended with Boone interceptions, and in Duke defeat. And that bowl win -- which hasn't happened since the 1960's -- remains elusive.
2. SHAQ POWELL WAS THE LATEST HOT DUKE TAILBACK, AND BOY WAS HE HOT
Ever since Duke's offensive line became a force to be reckoned with last season in both the run and pass games, the Blue Devils have been able to run the football on almost anyone, something that had eluded them.
Duke has utilized a stable of backs both this season and last, often riding the hot hand. And that was no different in the Sun Bowl, as Duke went to Powell 29 times for 117 yards. Powell, a junior, also had three catches for 52 yards. And seemingly any time Duke needed a big play, Powell was there to provide it for the Blue Devils.
Entering the game, he was second on the team in rushing, but he passed freshman Shaun Wilson (598 yards). Six different Duke players had at least 40 rushing attempts on the season, but Powell's 134 led the way.
All of Duke's tailbacks except Josh Snead (81 carries, 401 yards) return next year, and the Blue Devils will get Jela Duncan back, the leading rusher from its 2013 squad. Certainly a good sign for the future.
3. TWO FABULOUS WIDE RECEIVERS END THEIR RESPECTIVE CAREERS
One had seven catches for 103 yards, one seven for 102 -- but both caught their final passes for their respective teams on Saturday.
Arizona State's Jaelen Strong has already announced his intentions to turn pro early, and it was easy to see why.
The dynamic junior receiver had seven catches for 103 yards in his final game (14.7 per), and finished his Arizona State career with 157 catches for 2,287 yards and 17 touchdowns, averaging a ridiculous 14.6 per catch. Strong made the kinds of catches one doesn't often see at the college level, and he'll be an impact player at the next level.
Duke's Jamison Crowder, meanwhile, finished one catch short of the ACC career record of receptions and that fade route targeting him at the end of the game would have set it. He finished his Duke career with 283 catches for 3,641 yards and 22 touchdowns.
He couldn't quite replicate his junior season (108 catches for 1,360 yards) this year, but he came close with 85 for 1,044. And he went out with seven catches for 102 yards, not to mention a 12-yard touchdown pass and a 68-yard punt return for a score.
That's Crowder's Duke career summed up nicely -- a do-everything, MVP-type for the Blue Devils who will definitely be missed.
4. ARIZONA STATE CONTINUES TO BE ON THE RISE
Todd Graham seems to be building quite the program at Arizona State.
The Sun Devils have won 10 games in back-to-back seasons for the first time since a four-year stretch of 10 wins from 1970-73.
Graham's 28-12 in three seasons, and while he's graduating quite a few players and losing some important pieces, the Sun Devils already proved this year that they're a legit force in the Pac-12 and they will continue to be that.
Quarterback Taylor Kelly is gone, but he missed three games already this year with an injury and his backup filled in nicely. The defense had its ups and downs, but with so much youth on that side of the ball, there's nowhere to go but up.
Arizona State had to be disappointed with the end of its season, but credit to the Sun Devils for getting ready for this game and coming out strong from the kickoff.
