Mike Elko explains why hosting College GameDay moves Duke 'into a different stratosphere'

When Mike Elko took over at Duke last year, the Blue Devils were coming off a 3-9 record and an 0-8 mark in ACC play. He turned things around quickly to the tune of an 9-4 record in year one and a 4-0 start to this season.

That fast improvement has helped put Duke in the national spotlight. The Blue Devils kicked off the season with a huge upset of then-No. 9 Clemson at home, and they’ll have another opportunity to shake up the AP Top 25 on Saturday against No. 11 Notre Dame. That game will also take place on the big stage with a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff and with College GameDay in Durham for the first time.

Elko knows how important that is for Duke and what it means for the national perception of the program.

“Obviously, it’s huge,” Elko told Roddy Jones on Sirius XM. “I think that show is recognized by the masses of college football. And for Duke to get an opportunity to host it for the first time so quickly, obviously, vaults our program into a different stratosphere a little bit from a prestige standpoint, from how recruits view us, from how people are looking at us.

“I think it gives us an opportunity to get on a national stage again and showcase this program. Hopefully, we go out Saturday and do that the right way.”

Mike Elko: Duke players showed maturity in victory over UConn with Notre Dame looming

Last week showed Elko even more about this year’s Duke team. The Blue Devils took on UConn with a 3-0 record under their belts and as hype was building about the Notre Dame game. It could’ve easily been a look-ahead game, especially considering the chatter about College GameDay making the trip to Durham.

But Duke kept its foot to the floor, cruising past UConn 41-7. To Elko, it was more than just a blowout victory. His players stayed focused and didn’t get ahead of themselves, proving they’re ready for the spotlight.

“Listen, you can’t hide from this stuff,” Elko said. “We knew what was coming down the corner. Obviously, the buzz around the potential of College GameDay started towards the end of last week. As a coach, you get up there and you do everything you can to kind of keep them focused and locked in on the task at hand. But it takes a mature group of kids to go out and do that.

“To take the field together and play the way that we did last Saturday, I just think it shows that they expect to be in these types of situations, they’re ready to handle them the right way and that they’re progressing every week. That was what we wanted to see, for sure.”

Duke will have a chance to make another statement in prime time Saturday night. Kickoff between the Blue Devils and Notre Dame is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC.