Duke beats Indiana in Pinstripe Bowl 44-41 in OT

Duke hit a field goal in the first overtime and then forced in to settle for one as well.

As good as Indiana’s offense is, though, its defense is at the opposite end of the spectrum. That’s not a copout.

It was Indiana’s first appearance in a bowl game since 2007 and just the program’s second postseason trip since 1993. The kick was not reviewable.

This much should be stated, though: It shouldn’t have come to that. “So who can get stops, who can come up with big turnovers, etcetera”. He also added 163 passing yards and one touchdown through the air, although he was picked off twice.

Sudfeld threw another interception in the early stages of the second quarter, but the in offense righted itself after that, going on a 78-yard touchdown drive capped by a 25-yard scoring pass from Sudfeld to Luke Timian. After seeing Wilson’s 98-yard kickoff return, I would guess he’ll probably be back there in 2016.

Duke got the ball after the intermission and could only get a field goal as Ross Martin nailed the 34-yard field goal to make it a 20-17 game.

PREVIOUS BOWL EXPERIENCE: While Wilson is guiding IN to its first bowl since taking the job, he does have experience IN bowl games.

When Wilson was asked if he received an official explanation for the call, he responded quickly. The win over Wake ended the losing skid, but wasn’t exactly a great game for Duke either. “It’s been a goal for a long time”. “We spread the ball out a lot and I don’t think that we have any limitations”. If it was good, it was good.

Of all those that have helped Cutcliffe bring about that success, the group whose contribution ranks highest on the coach’s list is a senior class whose efforts have been the backbone of the Blue Devils’ improbable rise. They made enough plays to win the game. “Wrong side of the ledger”. Oakes thought he made it, and he may have a point.

As Duke prepares for the postseason, Blue Devil Network and GoDuke.com will count down the top plays from the first 12 games of the 2015 season.

Duke finished the season with an 8-5 mark. “I feel like my body is more energized, I’m more up to speed”. How often have they figured out ways to lose close games? To Iowa. They even gave Michigan State a run for its money before they got blown out late in the game. Duke’s David Cutcliffe is in his 26th bowl game as an assistant or head coach. Also, “fun” fact: Duke (remember, an ACC school) has played in more Rose Bowl games than in, though the 1942 Rose Bowl was played in Durham due to World War 2, so the teams have played in Pasadena the same number of times.

“We didn’t lose faith in ourselves that game”, Duke quarterback Thomas Sirk said. We can go under center.

If there is something of a saving grace, it’s this: It was a step for IU football.

Neither coach found a defense under his Christmas tree.

Duke quarterback Thomas Sirk talks to reporters during a news conference in New York, Thursday, Dec. 24, 2015.

Oh, and there was lots of nice New Era swag, which any college kid appreciates. Spriggs and Dan Feeney became IU’s first pair of first-team All-American offensive linemen, and the group as a whole opened holes and held the line for IU’s most productive offense ever.

However, he did caution visiting football fans that going to Yankee Stadium would not necessarily guarantee them a chance to see a Yankee. Just so many players wanting to be up around there. – Indiana RB Devine Redding ran 35 times for 227 yards and a score.

Teammate Shaun Wilson proved a flawless complement on the ground, but his throwing could use work. At the very least, it was a pleasant change from the usual drudgery of lost seasons. Now the betting odds for the game have the Hoosiers favored to pick up the victory.