Blue Devil Country

Duke Football: Mike Elko Sees 'Big Challenge' in Week 3

Duke football is riding a four-game win streak overall and a four-game win streak over Northwestern heading into Saturday's showdown.

Matt Giles

Duke football head coach Mike Elko (James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports)
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Mike Elko's second Duke football squad has yet to leave the friendly confines of Wallace Wade Stadium. And it won't again this week, as the No. 21 Blue Devils host unranked Northwestern on Saturday before traveling to UConn for their first road test next week.

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Duke's two wins thus far, a 28-7 upset over then-No. 9 Clemson and Saturday's 42-7 victory over Lafayette, extended the program's win streak to four and improved Elko's overall record to a highly impressive 11-4 while proving again that the former Texas A&M defensive coordinator is determined for the Blue Devils to dominate defensively.

Meanwhile, Northwestern's start to the 2023 campaign has been lackluster. The Wildcats lost at Rutgers, 24-7, before bouncing back with a 38-7 home win over UTEP.

But Elko is making sure his bunch doesn't take them lightly.

"They're a Big Ten team, so they're big, and they're physical," Elko said about Northwestern during his weekly press conference in Durham. "They were able to run the ball really well last week in the second half. They got the running game going a little bit. Defensively, they've given up about 15 points a game. They've been very physical. They're very stout. I think they know the scheme that they're playing very well, and they play it very fast.

"I think they're a big, big challenge for us."

WHO: Duke Blue Devils (2-0, 1-0 ACC) versus Northwestern Wildcats (1-1, 0-1 Big Ten)

WHERE: Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium (Durham, N.C.)

KICKOFF: Approximately 3:30 p.m. ET

TV: ACCN (Chris Cotter, Mark Herzlich, and Sherree Burruss on the call)

STREAM: fuboTV (start your free trial)

LISTEN: Blue Devil Sports Network from LEARFIELD, GoDuke.com

SERIES: Duke football leads the all-time series, 12-10, with four straight wins over Northwestern

Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country on SI.com for more Duke football news.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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