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Michigan State football: Power ranking head coaching candidates ahead of Week 10

By Connor Muldowney

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY - OCTOBER 28: Head coach Mike Elko of the Duke Blue Devils talks to an official in the game against the Louisville Cardinals at Cardinal Stadium on October 28, 2023 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY - OCTOBER 28: Head coach Mike Elko of the Duke Blue Devils talks to an official in the game against the Louisville Cardinals at Cardinal Stadium on October 28, 2023 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /
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Oct 28, 2023; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach Mike Elko talks with cornerback Chandler Rivers (0) during the second half against the Louisville Cardinals at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 28, 2023; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach Mike Elko talks with cornerback Chandler Rivers (0) during the second half against the Louisville Cardinals at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports /

Mike Elko is going to be at the top of everyone’s list until Michigan State actually hires him or someone else. He’s the top candidate not named… well, I can’t give away No. 1 yet, but you probably know who it is.

Elko has been a magician in Durham, turning a program that isn’t known for winning much into a contender. While Duke is going to fall short of ACC title aspirations this year, barring some meltdowns from teams ahead of them in the standings, the Blue Devils have been impressive considering they have been hampered by injuries.

In fact, star quarterback Riley Leonard has missed some time and is likely out for the remainder of the year and yet Duke is still bowl eligible after 10 weeks and it still has a legitimate chance to win nine games this year in the regular season.

Duke has games left against North Carolina, Virginia, and Pitt. An 8-4 finish to the regular season would be more than enough to sell me and the rest of the Michigan State fanbase on him.

No one wins this much at Duke.

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