AARON BEARD
Mike Elko speaks after being introduced as Duke University's head football coach during a press conference at Pascal Field House in Durham, N.C. Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. (Travis Long/The News & Observer via AP)
Elko aims to get Duke back to recent run of football success

By Aaron Beard Dec. 13, 2021 03:30 PM EST
DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — New Duke coach Mike Elko is focused on the recent run of football

FILE - Notre Dame defensive coordinator Mike Elko runs drills during NCAA college football practice, on March 22, 2017, in South Bend, Ind. Duke announced Friday night, Dec. 10, 2021, that they hired Elko as its new head football coach. Elko, 44, has spent the past four seasons as defensive coordinator and safeties coach at Texas A&M. Before that, had also worked at Notre Dame, Wake Forest and Bowling Green in the past decade. (Becky Malewitz/South Bend Tribune via AP, File)
Duke hires Texas A&M coordinator Mike Elko as football coach

By Aaron Beard Dec. 10, 2021 07:33 PM EST
Duke is turning to Texas A&M defensive coordinator Mike Elko to turn around its

FILE - The First Responder Bowl logo is displayed on the goalpost during the NCAA college football game between Western Kentucky and Western Michigan in Dallas, on Dec. 30, 2019. A study by The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport (TIDES) at Central Florida reported that the overall Graduation Success Rate (GSR) for bowl-bound teams had increased to 81.3%, up from 78% for 2020. Yet the racial gap fell as the average GSR for Black athletes rose from 73.4% in 2020 to 78% this year while white athletes remained steady at 89.7%. (AP Photo/Roger Steinman, File)
Study: Racial gap in grad rates narrows for bowl teams

By Aaron Beard Dec. 10, 2021 04:44 PM EST
The racial gap in graduation rates for this year’s bowl teams in college football has

Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett celebrates after their win against Wake Forest in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship NCAA college football game Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
Pickett, No. 13 Pitt headline AP All-ACC honors for 2021

By Aaron Beard Dec. 06, 2021 11:40 AM EST
Newly crowned Atlantic Coast Conference champion Pittsburgh headlines The Associated

Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett and head coach Pat Narduzzi celebrate with the trophy after their win against Wake Forest in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
No. 17 Pitt rolls by No. 18 Wake Forest 45-21 for ACC title

By Aaron Beard Dec. 05, 2021 12:09 AM EST
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Erick Hallett II saw the receiver running to his side

FILE - Pittsburgh head coach Pat Narduzzi on the sideline during an NCAA college football game against Virginia, Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, in Pittsburgh. For the first time since the College Football Playoff was introduced in 2014, the ACC will not be part of the four-team elimination format. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Patience helps Wake Forest, Pitt build for ACC title shot

By Aaron Beard Dec. 03, 2021 12:00 PM EST
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — Dave Clawson needed eight seasons to build a

Wake Forest head coach Dave Clawson looks on during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Boston College, Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)
Third downs loom large in Pitt-Wake Forest ACC title game

By Aaron Beard Nov. 30, 2021 06:27 PM EST
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — Wake Forest has extended drives all year with a

Duke head coach David Cutcliffe walks off the field after the team lost an NCAA college football game against Miami, Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021, in Durham, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
Duke's Cutcliffe won't return after 'mutual' separation

By Aaron Beard Nov. 28, 2021 04:26 PM EST
David Cutcliffe won’t return for a 15th season as Duke’s coach after the school

FILE - Wake Forest head coach Dave Clawson reacts during the first half of an NCAA college football game against North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C., Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021. For the first time since the College Football Playoff was introduced in 2014, the ACC will not be part of the four-team elimination format. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome, File)
Wake Forest signs Clawson to long-term contract extension

By Aaron Beard Nov. 26, 2021 08:02 PM EST
Wake Forest has signed football coach Dave Clawson to what it calls a long-term

North Carolina coach Mack Brown watches the team play Pittsburgh during the first half of an NCAA college football game Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
North Carolina hosts Wofford with Howell's status uncertain

By Aaron Beard Nov. 18, 2021 10:44 AM EST
North Carolina’s quick success in Mack Brown’s second tenure has come with Sam

Wake Forest wide receiver A.T. Perry celebrates during the second half of an NCAA college football game against North Carolina State Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, in Winston-Salem, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
No. 13 Wake Forest's trip to Clemson tops ACC Week 12 slate

By Aaron Beard Nov. 18, 2021 02:11 AM EST
Here are things to watch in the Atlantic Coast Conference in Week 12:

Pittsburgh defensive lineman Tyler Bentley (92) and linebacker Phil Campbell III (24) sack North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell (7) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
UNC: Quarterback Howell's status in question vs Wofford

By Aaron Beard Nov. 15, 2021 01:23 PM EST
North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell is dealing with an upper-body injury that

Wake Forest wide receiver A.T. Perry celebrates during the second half of an NCAA college football game against North Carolina State Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, in Winston-Salem, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Hartman, Ellison help No. 13 Wake Forest top No. 21 NC State

By Aaron Beard Nov. 13, 2021 11:56 PM EST
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — The off-target throws, drops and mistakes kept

Wake Forest wide receiver A.T. Perry (9) scores a touchdown as North Carolina defensive back Cam'Ron Kelly (9) misses the tackle during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Chapel Hill, N.C., Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
WRs Perry, Roberson rise to FBS elite for No. 13 Wake Forest

By Aaron Beard Nov. 12, 2021 03:06 PM EST
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — The ball sailed his way, and Wake Forest’s A.T.

Wake Forest quarterback Sam Hartman (10) runs for a touchdown against North Carolina during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Chapel Hill, N.C., Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
No. 13 Wake Forest, No. 21 NC State meet in key ACC clash

By Aaron Beard Nov. 11, 2021 11:51 AM EST
Both Wake Forest and North Carolina State entered the season with ambitions of

North Carolina running back Ty Chandler (19) runs for a tochdown while Wake Forest defensive lineman Jasheen Davis (30) tries to make the tackle during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Chapel Hill, N.C., Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
Chandler, Tar Heels rally past No. 10 Demon Deacons, 58-55

By Aaron Beard Nov. 06, 2021 04:28 PM EDT
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — For the second straight year, Wake Forest couldn't

Wake Forest quarterback Sam Hartman (10) throws a pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Duke on Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, in Winston-Salem, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)
No. 10 Demon Deacons visit Tar Heels in nonconference game

By Aaron Beard Nov. 04, 2021 11:28 AM EDT
Wake Forest has its highest AP Top 25 ranking, the best start in program

Duke head coach David Cutcliffe looks on during a timeout in the first half of an NCAA college football game against Wake Forest on Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, in Winston-Salem, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)
Pittsburgh looks to bounce back from loss in visit to Duke

By Aaron Beard Nov. 04, 2021 11:23 AM EDT
DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Pittsburgh’s rapid rise hit an abrupt stop. The Panthers

Wake Forest quarterback Sam Hartman (10) throws a pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Duke on Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, in Winston-Salem, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)
Hartman, No. 13 Wake Forest top Duke 45-7 to stay unbeaten

By Aaron Beard Oct. 30, 2021 07:15 PM EDT
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — Wake Forest's offense has spent the past two weeks

Wake Forest linebacker Ryan Smenda Jr. (5) reacts after tackling Army quarterback Tyhier Tyler during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, in West Point, N.Y. Wake Forest won 70-56. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
No. 13 Wake Forest seeks defensive surge down ACC stretch

By Aaron Beard Oct. 29, 2021 11:00 AM EDT
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — The offense is moving the ball with big plays and