Mike Elko

Mike Elko was named the head football coach at Texas A&M University on Monday, just days after the Blue Devils beat Pittsburgh at home in its final game of the regular season.

It became apparent on the opening weekend when Duke, under reigning ACC Coach of the Year Mike Elko, pummeled ACC bully Clemson 28-7 on national TV.

Riley Leonard scored on a 44-yard go-ahead touchdown. It was Duke's first win against Clemson since 2004 and ended a 28-game losing streak against top-10 opponents.

Athletic director Nina King also announced the salary pool for assistant coaches and support staff would be increased.

For the first time ever, each of the state’s four Atlantic Coast Conference teams — Duke, UNC, N.C. State and Wake Forest — all qualified for a bowl. East Carolina is also going bowling.

For the first time ever, the state’s “Big Four” Atlantic Coast Conference schools of North Carolina, North Carolina State, Wake Forest and Duke -- have all started at least 2-0. And Appalachian State of the Sun Belt Conference pulled off a huge upset by winning at No. 6 Texas A&M.

As the landscape in college sports shifts, the ACC shouldn’t have to worry about its schools leaving, but as the revenue gap between it and other conferences will only grow wider, anxiety about being left behind figures to build among its member institutions.

Duke hiring Mike Elko makes it look like the Blue Devils are leaning into blue-collar, defensive-minded football. But they’re also hiring a man with an Ivy League degree, extensive experience of coaching at schools similar to Duke and someone who has aspirations for the team that are above average.