JACKSONVILLE – Duke's quest for just the second 10-win season in program history ended in disappointment Wednesday night, as No. 16 Ole Miss overwhelmed the Blue Devils 52-20 in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl at EverBank Stadium.
Playing without their regular-season starting quarterback and running back due to transfer portal departures, Duke (9-4) struggled to find offensive rhythm behind redshirt sophomore Henry Belin IV, who made his first start since mid-October. Belin finished 25-of-44 for 236 yards with two touchdowns and an interception, but the Blue Devils' ground game never materialized, managing just 44 yards on 23 attempts.
The most electric moment for Duke came in the game's final minutes when Peyton Jones electrified the crowd with a 99-yard kickoff return touchdown. However, by then Ole Miss (11-3) had already built an insurmountable lead behind a masterful performance from quarterback Jaxson Dart.
Dart dismantled Duke's typically stout defense, throwing for 404 yards and four touchdowns on 27-of-35 passing. His favorite target was Jordan Watkins, who hauled in seven catches for 180 yards and two scores, including a backbreaking 69-yard touchdown with 1:27 remaining.
The Blue Devils' defense, which entered the game as one of the ACC's top units, struggled to contain Ole Miss's balanced attack. The Rebels amassed 589 total yards, with running back Ulysses Bentley IV contributing 70 rushing yards and two touchdowns to complement Dart's aerial assault.
Duke linebacker Ozzie Nicholas led all defenders with 11 tackles, while Alex Howard added nine tackles including 1.5 for loss. But the Blue Devils' pass rush, which managed three sacks of Dart, couldn't generate enough pressure to disrupt the Ole Miss offense consistently.
The game started ominously for Duke, as Ole Miss built a 14-0 first-quarter lead on an Antwane Wells Jr. 32-yard touchdown reception and Bentley's first scoring run. The Blue Devils showed brief signs of life in the second quarter when Belin connected with Javon Harvey for a 16-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to 17-7.
However, any momentum was short-lived. The Rebels responded with a 75-yard touchdown drive, and Isaiah Hamilton's 50-yard interception return for a touchdown early in the third quarter pushed the lead to 31-7, effectively ending Duke's hopes of a comeback.
Despite the loss, Duke's season represented significant progress in their rebuilding efforts. The Blue Devils earned their first bowl appearance since 2018 and saw 15 players receive All-ACC recognition, including first-team selection Chandler Rivers at cornerback.
For Ole Miss, the victory capped their first 11-win season since 2015. The Rebels' offense, which averaged over eight yards per play, showcased why they finished among the SEC's most productive units. Freshman receiver Cayden Lee added eight receptions for 57 yards, while Dae'Quan Wright contributed three catches for 73 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, Ole Miss held Duke to just 4.1 yards per play, with safety Trey Washington leading the way with 10 tackles. The Rebels' defensive front, led by Jared Ivey's five quarterback hurries, consistently pressured Belin despite not recording a sack.
The game marked Duke's first-ever appearance in the Gator Bowl and the first meeting between these programs. While the final score wasn't what the Blue Devils hoped for, their nine-win season still stands as one of the most successful in recent program history.
The loss snapped Duke's five-game bowl winning streak, which had been tied for the second-longest active streak in the nation. Meanwhile, Ole Miss secured their first bowl victory since the 2022 season and set a program record with their seventh straight bowl appearance.
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