Overview
- Quarterback Darian Mensah earned MVP honors after throwing for 327 yards and four touchdowns for the ACC champion Blue Devils.
- Arizona State’s Jeff Sims passed for 375 yards with three touchdown throws and ran for 70 yards and two scores in a standout dual‑threat effort.
- The game set Sun Bowl marks for combined total offense at 1,158 yards, single‑team offense with Arizona State’s 619 yards, and points in a half with 52 before halftime.
- Duke capitalized when Demarius Robinson fumbled with 2:42 left, setting up Que’Sean Brown’s 17‑yard go‑ahead TD, and Luke Mergott’s interception on the next drive sealed the win.
- Duke finished 9-5 for a second straight nine‑win season as reports noted Arizona State played short‑handed with numerous absences.