CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - Conner Vernon sees Thursday night's Belk Bowl game against Cincinnati as a perfect opportunity to help Duke football emerge from the shadows of Mike Krzyzewski's basketball program.

This is Duke's first bowl game since in 18 seasons and they'll be playing in the only nationally televised bowl game of the night.

Vernon, the ACC's career leader in receptions and yards receiving, says "anybody who follows college football will be watching, so this is our chance in the national spotlight to take a big step forward with this program and let people know about us."

The Blue Devils haven't won a bowl game since 1961.

Duke faces a Cincinnati team in transition following the departure earlier this month of head coach Butch Jones and both coordinators.

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