Since the end of the regular season, it has been a tumultuous few weeks for Duke. The Blue Devils lost former head coach Mike Elko to a massive contract at Texas A&M, which was followed by an abundance of player departures. Key pieces on both sides of the ball, like running back Jordan Waters, quarterback Riley Leonard and defensive lineman Aeneas Peebles, have all left the program for other schools.
Now, Duke will come into its final game of the season short-handed, led by an interim head coach and quarterbacked by freshman Grayson Loftis. The Blue Devils, after initial rumors that they would be heading to the Gasparilla Bowl in Florida, ended up scheduled for the Birmingham Bowl. There, the squad from Durham will take on Troy, the 2023 Sun Belt champions with one of the scariest defenses outside of the Power 5.
The Trojans, however, have also seen some chaos in the ranks. Head coach Jon Sumrall left in the period before the bowl for the newly-vacated top job at Tulane. As a result, Troy will be coached by interim head coach and defensive coordinator Greg Gasparato. Beyond that, however, the Trojans have not seen nearly the rate of departure that the Blue Devils have. That said, Troy’s leading tackler on the season, linebacker Jayden McDonald, announced recently that he would be entering the transfer portal.
The place to start for the Alabama-based team is indeed on defense. The Trojans have put together an incredibly impressive season on that side of the ball, setting the Sun Belt single-season record for sacks with 45. But this group is more than just a strong pass-rushing team. Troy ranks 10th nationally in scoring defense and 14th in rushing defense, along with 15th in total defense.
The place to start for this group is still on the defensive line, which boasted a dangerous duo in defensive end Javon Solomon and combo OLB-nickel Richard Jibunor this season. The two have totaled 25 sacks as a pair, along with Solomon’s Sun Belt record-setting 16 sacks. That being said, Solomon is currently listed as a likely non-participant in the bowl game. Jibunor, however, is ready to go. He will certainly present a challenge to a Blue Devil offensive line that will be short without the presence of star left tackle and potential first-round NFL Draft pick Graham Barton.
Jibunor, along with the rest of a personnel group that has been impressively potent throughout the season, will likely force some quick decision-making from Loftis. While Loftis’s pocket poise has improved throughout the year, this group will offer one of the bigger tests. He will need to be quick and decisive, finding what few receivers remain on his team to make plays and move the ball down the field. The run game also likely will not be an ideal option, given the Trojans’ ability to make stops on that front.
Troy has a solid offense, but nothing mind-blowing. The Trojans lean closer to the passing attack, but have switched back-and-forth throughout the year. They are quarterbacked by senior Gunnar Watson, who has had an outstanding year by most measures. Watson has put up a 150.5 quarterback rating, averaging 256.8 yards through the air per game and a completion rate of 61.3%. His vision is impressive as well, with just five interceptions thrown on the year. While Watson is not an especially speedy or versatile signal-caller, he is a poised pocket presence who is more than capable of finding open targets down the field and creating opportunities to make players for his teammates.
The rushing attack is also solid, with junior Kimani Vidal leading the way. Vidal has put together an outstanding season on the ground, averaging 121.7 yards per game. The slightly undersized 5-foot-8 running back is speedy and elusive, putting together sizable outbursts for significant gains.
To put it simply, the Blue Devils will have their hands full Saturday. The Trojans are a strong team on both sides of the ball, and they have looked dominant in the Sun Belt all year. Troy has won 10 straight games, and will be looking to make it 11. That said, both teams will likely be a bit disjointed. Key players will be out, and personnel groups will have different, younger looks. What it will come down to is how each side adapts. That, of course, remains to be seen. If Duke can pull out the win, it will be a significant step in the right direction as new head coach Manny Diaz takes the helm and begins working to rebuild his team in the offseason.
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