CHARLOTTE – Manny Diaz walked into ACC Kickoff with purpose. Before anyone could ask a question, he addressed the elephant in the room: the new ACC tiebreaker rule that was created because of Duke’s path to last year’s championship game. He did not tiptoe around it whatsoever.

“Inherent in the narrative of changing a tiebreaker is the assertion that last year’s team was undeserved of being in the championship game,” Diaz said. “I think it is not just false. I think it is insulting.” Diaz defended his team with clarity. Duke won the games it needed to win. Duke earned its spot. Duke beat Virginia in Charlotte. And Duke finished with nine wins and a Sun Bowl victory. “We were the top team to go play Virginia,” Diaz said. “By the most objective metric you can have.”

It was a strong opening statement, and it set the tone for a program that refuses to apologize for success. Duke has won nine games in back-to-back seasons. Duke has won the state of North Carolina two years in a row. Duke has built a culture that has survived coaching changes, transfers, and roster turnover. Now Diaz wants to do it again.

Diaz talked openly about the four pillars of Duke’s rise: evaluation, acquisition, development, and deployment. He said Duke has won games in different ways each season because the staff adapts to the roster instead of forcing a system. 

In 2024, Duke won with defense. In 2025, Duke won with offense. This year, Diaz believes the roster is deeper, faster, and more balanced. “We have eleven guys running over twenty-two miles an hour,” Diaz said. “We have sixty-seven players running over twenty. Our guys are seeing real proof that if they follow the program, they get better.”

He credited strength coach David Feeley for building the foundation. He credited the locker room for maintaining the connection that keeps Duke from becoming a revolving door in the transfer era. “We have a very distinct ‘us’ at Duke,” Diaz said. “I am proud of that.”

Duke’s defense slipped last season and Diaz did not hide from it. “Somehow last year we lost urgency,” he said. “I do not know that we have a guy right now who knows for sure he is a starter, and that is fantastic.” The defensive end room lost Wesley Williams and Vincent Anthony to the NFL, but Diaz believes the next wave is ready. Kevin O’Connor had a strong spring. Tyshon Reed and Bryce Davis are pushing for snaps. New position coach Trent Harris has taken over a room that has produced NFL talent for decades.

The linebacker group is one of the deepest in the ACC. Nick Morris Jr. returns healthy. Luke Mergott is coming off a breakout season. Bradley Gompers, Will Felder, and Kendall Johnson give Duke real depth. Mergott said the key is not letting success change the approach. “The second you let it change your approach is the second you change as a player,” he said.

Running back Nate Sheppard had every reason to enter the transfer portal but chose to stay. “I believed in Coach Diaz’s vision,” Sheppard said. “We have one of the best locker rooms in the country.” Sheppard ran for more than eleven hundred yards last season and scored ten touchdowns. His one hundred seventy yards in the Sun Bowl were the third most by an ACC freshman in the last decade. Diaz challenged him to avoid complacency. “Do not be content,” Sheppard said. “Keep pushing.”

Tight end Jeremiah Hasley is four touchdowns away from Duke’s career record at the position. He has become one of the most reliable players on the roster and one of the strongest leaders in the program. “Our first goal is always to come back to Charlotte,” Hasley said. “Then the College Football Playoff.”

Schedule Breakdown

Duke’s 2026 schedule is balanced but challenging. It includes a strong opener, a pair of early home games, and a November stretch that will determine whether the Blue Devils can return to Charlotte.

Sep. 5 vs Tulane  

Sep. 12 at Illinois  

Sep. 19 vs Stanford  

Sep. 26 vs William and Mary  

Tulane is a quality opener. Illinois on the road is a physical test. Stanford at home is winnable. William and Mary is a chance to reset before ACC play. If Duke starts three and one, it will be in a strong position.

Oct. 10 at Georgia Tech  

Oct. 17 vs North Carolina  

Oct. 23 at Virginia  

Oct. 31 vs Boston College  

Georgia Tech on the road is always tricky. UNC in Durham is a rivalry game that has the potential for fireworks. Virginia reached the ACC title game last season and will not be overlooked. Boston College is a physical matchup that often comes down to the fourth quarter.

Nov. 7 at NC State  

Nov. 14 at Miami  

Nov. 20 vs Clemson  

Nov. 28 at Wake Forest  

Three road games in four weeks. Miami and NC State are both conference contenders. Clemson comes to Durham on a Friday night. Wake Forest closes the season with a rivalry game that has grown more competitive each year. If Duke is still in the ACC race by early November, this stretch will decide everything.

North Carolina will be well represented in the college football postseason. Four of the state’s seven FBS programs, NC State, Duke, Wake Forest, and East Carolina, secured bowl invitations Sunday as the 2025-26 lineup was announced. After several teams declined, App State accepted a bowl invitation late Sunday as well. North Carolina and Charlotte were left out of the field, leaving five teams to carry the state’s banner into December and January.

NC State – Gasparilla Bowl

NC State (7-5) heads to Tampa to face Memphis (8-4) in the Gasparilla Bowl on Dec. 19. The Wolfpack closed the season with a rivalry win over UNC and will lean on their defense to slow a Tigers offense averaging more than 30 points per game. Kickoff is 2:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Duke – Sun Bowl

Fresh off its first outright ACC title since 1962, Duke (8-5) meets Arizona State (8-4) in the Sun Bowl on Dec. 31. The Blue Devils’ defense will be tested by ASU’s dual-threat quarterback, while coach Manny Diaz looks to cap his debut season with a statement win. Game time is 2 p.m. ET on CBS.

Wake Forest – Duke’s Mayo Bowl

Wake Forest (8-4) returns to Charlotte for the Duke’s Mayo Bowl against Mississippi State (5-7) on Jan. 2. First-year coach Jake Dickert guided the Deacs to a steady finish, and his offense will try to exploit a Bulldogs team that slipped into the postseason via APR. Kickoff is 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.

East Carolina – Military Bowl

East Carolina (8-4) rides late-season momentum into the Military Bowl against Pitt (8-4) on Dec. 27. Quarterback Katin Houser leads a Pirates offense averaging nearly 500 yards per game, while Pitt counters with a physical defense that thrives on pressure. The game begins at 11 a.m. ET on ESPN.

App State – Birmingham Bowl

App State (5-7) steps into the Birmingham Bowl against Georgia Southern (7-5) on Dec. 29. The Mountaineers accepted a late invitation after several teams declined, setting up a Sun Belt rivalry rematch at Protective Stadium. Kickoff is 2 p.m. ET on ESPN.

CHARLOTTE – Duke won its first ACC Championship Game in program history, defeating Virginia 27-20 in overtime Saturday night at Bank of America Stadium to claim the conference title and deny the Cavaliers an automatic berth in the College Football Playoff.

The Blue Devils, who entered as significant underdogs after sneaking into the championship via a five-way tiebreaker, sealed the victory when linebacker Luke Mergott picked off a pass on the first play of overtime. Duke had scored on its overtime possession when Darian Mensah found Jeremiah Hasley for a one-yard touchdown pass on fourth down.

The championship marks Duke's first outright ACC title since 1962 and its second ACC Championship Game appearance. The Blue Devils lost to Florida State in their only previous title game appearance in 2013.

Virginia, which finished the regular season 10-2 and was seeking its first ACC Championship Game victory in three attempts, forced overtime when Morris connected with Eli Wood on an 18-yard touchdown pass with 22 seconds remaining in regulation. The drive covered 96 yards in 10 plays and was kept alive by two Duke pass interference penalties on defensive back Caleb Weaver.

Duke's path to Charlotte came through one of the most complicated tiebreaker scenarios in conference history. The Blue Devils finished 6-2 in ACC play, tied with Miami, Pittsburgh, SMU and Georgia Tech, but emerged from the five-way tiebreaker to earn the championship game berth opposite Virginia, which finished 7-1 in conference play.

The game featured two teams heading in opposite directions. Virginia entered having completed just the second 10-win regular season in program history and first since 1989. Duke, meanwhile, had lost to Virginia 34-17 during the regular season and finished 7-5 overall.

Mensah completed 19 of 25 passes for 196 yards and two touchdowns despite being sacked once and throwing one interception. His counterpart, Morris, finished 21 of 40 for 216 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Morris was sacked once and faced consistent pressure from Duke's defensive front.

Nate Sheppard provided the offensive foundation for Duke, rushing 21 times for 97 yards and a touchdown while adding five receptions for 31 yards. His 16-yard touchdown run in the second quarter gave Duke a 14-7 lead. Cooper Barkate led all receivers with five catches for 91 yards, including a crucial 38-yard reception in the third quarter.

For Virginia, J'Mari Taylor rushed 15 times for 65 yards and caught a touchdown pass, while Harrison Waylee added 66 yards on 11 carries. Cam Ross led Cavaliers receivers with five catches for 59 yards.

Duke controlled possession for more than 34 minutes compared to Virginia's 25:36, a disparity driven largely by the Blue Devils' effective rushing attack and their 4-for-4 success rate on fourth down conversions. Virginia converted just one of two fourth down attempts.

The first half belonged to Duke despite Virginia's brief comeback. After Duke took a 7-0 lead on Mensah's 12-yard touchdown pass to Hasley midway through the first quarter, Virginia answered when Morris found Taylor for an 11-yard score early in the second quarter to tie the game at 7-7.

Duke regained the lead on Sheppard's 16-yard rushing touchdown with 6:14 remaining in the second quarter, capping a 13-play, 75-yard drive that consumed more than eight minutes. The Blue Devils took a 14-7 lead into halftime after limiting Virginia to just 4:53 of possession time in the second quarter.

Virginia dominated the third quarter, holding the ball for more than 11 minutes while Duke managed just 3:26. The Cavaliers drove 68 yards in 17 plays before settling for a 24-yard field goal from Will Bettridge that cut Duke's lead to 14-10.

Duke answered with its own field goal, a 29-yarder from Todd Pelino, to extend the lead to 17-10. The drive was aided by a 38-yard completion from Mensah to Barkate and a 15-yard face mask penalty on Virginia's Ja'son Prevard.

The fourth quarter featured three lead changes and critical defensive plays from both sides. Duke extended its advantage to 20-10 on another Pelino field goal, this one from 23 yards after the Blue Devils recovered a Weaver interception at the Virginia 33-yard line.

Virginia responded with Bettridge's 42-yard field goal to make it 20-13 with 3:54 remaining, then got the ball back at its own 4-yard line after Duke punted with 1:44 left. The Cavaliers faced multiple third and fourth down conversions during their final drive of regulation, converting a crucial fourth-and-four when Morris found Ross for nine yards to the Duke 18.

Two plays later, Morris hit Wood in stride for the game-tying touchdown. Bettridge's extra point sent the game to overtime tied at 20-20.

In overtime, Duke took possession first and marched to the Virginia 1-yard line behind three consecutive rushing attempts by Sheppard that gained 11, six and seven yards. After two stuffed runs by Anderson Castle, Mensah's pass fell incomplete on third down, setting up fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line.

Mensah rolled right and found Hasley in the flat for the go-ahead score. Virginia was penalized for a personal foul on James Jackson after the play, but it had no bearing on the result. Pelino added the extra point for a 27-20 Duke lead.

Virginia's overtime possession lasted one play. The Cavaliers attempted a trick play with a pass deep down the left sideline, but Mergott stepped in front of the pass at the Duke 24-yard line for his second interception of the game, ending Virginia's season and securing Duke's first ACC Championship Game victory.

The Blue Devils converted 6 of 16 third down attempts and were perfect on fourth down, going 4-for-4 in critical situations. Virginia converted 7 of 15 third downs but managed just one conversion on two fourth down tries.

Duke outgained Virginia 333-344 in total yards but won the turnover battle 2-1. The Blue Devils also controlled the line of scrimmage, averaging 3.1 yards per carry compared to Virginia's 4.4, though Duke ran 44 times compared to Virginia's 29 rushes.

The victory gives Duke its eighth ACC title overall, counting championships from 1953, 1954, 1955, 1960, 1961, 1962 and 1989 when the Blue Devils shared the crown with Virginia. For Duke coach Manny Diaz, it marks the program's most significant victory in decades and validates the Blue Devils' surprising march through the ACC's tiebreaker gauntlet.

Virginia's loss ends a remarkable season that saw the Cavaliers match their 1995 team with a program-record seven ACC victories. The defeat also costs Virginia an automatic berth in the College Football Playoff, though the Cavaliers could still receive an at-large bid depending on Sunday's selection committee rankings.

Duke's championship caps an improbable postseason run for a team that finished three games behind Virginia in the ACC standings but found a way to win when it mattered most. The Blue Devils will now await their bowl destination while Virginia contemplates what might have been after coming within one overtime possession of the program's first ACC Championship Game victory.

DURHAM – Duke captured its second consecutive North Carolina “state championship” with a 49-32 victory over Wake Forest on Saturday at Wallace Wade Stadium, completing a season sweep of the Old North State's ACC programs.

The Blue Devils (7-5, 6-2 ACC) secured back-to-back state titles for the first time since 1961-62, defeating NC State, North Carolina and Wake Forest in successive seasons. The victory also gave Duke six ACC wins for the first time since 2013 and marked just the fourth time in program history the Blue Devils have reached that conference win total.

Quarterback Darian Mensah made history in the third quarter, throwing his 27th touchdown pass of the season to set a new Duke single-season record. The sophomore connected with Sahmir Hagans on a 30-yard scoring strike to extend the lead to 28-17 with 9:45 remaining in the third period.

Running back Nate Sheppard had a breakout performance, rushing for 75 yards and two touchdowns while establishing new Duke freshman records. His 13-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter was his ninth rushing touchdown of the season, breaking the previous freshman mark of eight. The performance also pushed Sheppard to 865 rushing yards for the year, another freshman program record.

Anderson Castle complemented Sheppard's ground game with two short touchdown runs, giving him 11 rushing scores on the season. That total ties for eighth-most in a single season in Duke program history. Castle finished with 21 yards on 12 carries.

Wake Forest (8-4, 4-4 ACC) quarterback Robby Ashford completed 27 of 43 passes for 342 yards and two touchdowns, adding a rushing score as well. However, the Demon Deacons were plagued by turnovers, losing three fumbles while Ashford threw one interception.

Duke established control early, taking a 7-0 lead on its opening drive when Sheppard scored from five yards out. The 75-yard march marked the fourth time in five games the Blue Devils had scored on their first possession.

The Demon Deacons responded with a 42-yard Connor Calvert field goal to cut the deficit to 7-3, but Mensah answered on the final play of the first quarter with a four-yard touchdown run for a 14-3 Duke advantage. The score was Mensah's first rushing touchdown as a Blue Devil and second of his career.

Wake Forest's Sawyer Racanelli caught a 22-yard touchdown pass from Ashford early in the second quarter to make it 14-10, but Duke responded after stopping the Demon Deacons on fourth down at their own 36-yard line. Castle's one-yard touchdown plunge with 1:38 left in the half extended the lead to 21-10.

Ashford connected with Karate Brenson on a 20-yard touchdown pass with 29 seconds remaining in the half to bring Wake Forest within 21-17 at the break.

The third quarter proved decisive for Duke. After both teams punted on their opening possessions, Mensah found Hagans for the record-breaking touchdown pass. Ashford answered with a 10-yard rushing touchdown and successful two-point conversion on the final play of the quarter to cut the deficit to 35-25.

Hagans provided the game's most explosive play moments later, returning the ensuing kickoff 80 yards to the Wake Forest 13-yard line. Sheppard capped the short drive with his record-setting ninth touchdown run, pushing the lead to 42-25 with 13:57 remaining.

Wake Forest's Ty Clark scored on a one-yard run to make it 42-32 with 11:13 left, but Duke's defense took control down the stretch. The Blue Devils forced fumbles on consecutive Wake Forest possessions, with linebacker Luke Mergott recovering two of them.

Mensah sealed the victory with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Jeremiah Hasley with 23 seconds remaining. The sophomore finished 24 of 35 for 268 yards and two touchdowns through the air while adding the rushing score.

Cooper Barkate led Duke's receiving corps with eight catches for 83 yards, while Sheppard added five receptions for 60 yards to complement his rushing performance.

For Wake Forest, Racanelli hauled in seven catches for 123 yards and a touchdown, while Carlos Hernandez added six receptions for 93 yards. Running back Demond Claiborne rushed for 58 yards on 13 carries.

The victory improved Duke's four-year ACC win total to 20, the second-most in program history behind only the 21 conference victories from 1960-63. The senior class tied the program record for most wins in a four-year span with 33.

Both teams will learn their bowl destinations on Dec. 7.

CHAPEL HILL – Duke scored the final eight points in the closing minutes Saturday to pull out a 32-25 victory over North Carolina at Kenan Stadium, moving to 6-5 overall and 5-2 in conference play while dropping the Tar Heels to 4-7 and 2-5.

The Blue Devils trailed 25-24 with less than three minutes remaining before putting together a crucial 11-play, 68-yard drive that consumed over four minutes of clock. The march ended with Anderson Castle's third rushing touchdown of the game, a one-yard plunge with 2:18 left. Duke then converted a two-point attempt on a pass from Nate Sheppard to push the lead to seven points.

North Carolina got the ball back but managed just four plays that lost three yards total. Gio Lopez was sacked on consecutive plays and threw an incomplete pass on fourth down to seal Duke's victory.

Castle finished with 49 yards and three touchdowns on 13 carries, finding the end zone from one yard out three separate times. His scoring runs came in the first quarter to tie the game at 7-7, in the third quarter to extend Duke's lead to 24-10, and his decisive fourth-quarter touchdown. Sheppard carried 22 times for 90 yards, including a 29-yard burst in the third quarter that set up Duke's second touchdown of that period.

Quarterback Darian Mensah completed 20 of 33 passes for 175 yards and one touchdown without an interception. His 14-yard scoring strike to Jeremiah Hasley in the second quarter gave Duke a 14-7 lead. Hasley led all receivers with seven catches for 85 yards, while Sahmir Hagans added three receptions for 30 yards and returned one kickoff for 40 yards.

Duke controlled possession for 36 minutes compared to North Carolina's 24 minutes and ran 76 offensive plays to the Tar Heels' 52. The Blue Devils converted six of 15 third-down attempts and an impressive five of six fourth-down tries, with the successful fourth-down conversions proving critical in sustaining drives.

North Carolina appeared poised to complete a comeback after Lopez connected with Jordan Shipp for a 20-yard touchdown pass with 4:52 left in the third quarter. The Tar Heels successfully converted a two-point attempt on a pass from Shipp to cut Duke's lead to 24-18.

The Tar Heels took their only lead of the game early in the fourth quarter when Davion Gause capped a nine-play, 91-yard drive with a 12-yard touchdown run at 13:13. The extra point gave North Carolina a 25-24 advantage.

Gause rushed eight times for 63 yards and added one reception for 16 yards, finishing with 79 all-purpose yards. Lopez completed 21 of 27 passes for 204 yards and one touchdown but was sacked three times for 19 yards in losses. He also rushed nine times for a net of 20 yards and two touchdowns, including a one-yard score in the first quarter that gave North Carolina an early 7-0 lead.

Shipp caught eight passes for 83 yards and the touchdown while Kobe Paysour hauled in five receptions for 63 yards. However, North Carolina's offense stalled in critical moments, particularly on their final two possessions when they totaled negative 16 yards.

Duke built a 17-7 halftime lead after a 14-play, 71-yard drive that ate up nearly seven minutes of second-quarter clock. The Blue Devils faced multiple setbacks on the drive, including a holding penalty that created a first-and-20 situation, but they converted a third-and-24 with an 11-yard scramble by Mensah before settling for a 33-yard field goal by Todd Pelino.

North Carolina responded with an eight-play drive covering 44 yards in the final 2:26 of the half, with Rece Verhoff drilling a 49-yard field goal as time expired to cut the deficit to 17-10.

The third quarter featured explosive offensive plays from both teams. Duke opened the second half with an 11-play, 44-yard touchdown drive, aided by penalties and a successful fourth-down conversion. Castle scored from one yard out to make it 24-10 at 9:15.

North Carolina answered immediately with its best offensive series of the game. Lopez completed five of six passes on a 10-play, 75-yard march that covered just 4:23. His 20-yard touchdown pass to Shipp brought the Tar Heels within six points after the successful two-point conversion.

The Blue Devils' defense made crucial stops when needed, forcing three three-and-outs and recording five tackles for loss totaling 23 yards. Duke sacked Lopez three times for 19 yards, with Josiah Green, Aaron Hall, and Luke Mergott each recording sacks. The final sack by Mergott came with 1:24 remaining and helped preserve the victory.

North Carolina's defense recorded five tackles for loss totaling 26 yards and one sack. However, critical penalties hurt the Tar Heels throughout the game. They committed 12 penalties for 103 yards compared to Duke's three penalties for 27 yards. Three unsportsmanlike conduct penalties in the fourth quarter, including one after Duke's final touchdown and another after a kickoff, exemplified the undisciplined play that hampered North Carolina's comeback attempt.

Duke's offensive balance proved effective, with 177 rushing yards on 43 attempts and 175 passing yards. The Blue Devils averaged 4.6 yards per play compared to North Carolina's 5.9, but their ability to sustain drives and convert in crucial situations made the difference.

The victory secures bowl eligibility for Duke at 6-5 with one regular-season game remaining. North Carolina's loss eliminates the Tar Heels from bowl contention at 4-7, ensuring a losing season regardless of the outcome in their final game.

Top Performers

Duke:

1. Anderson Castle: 13 rushes, 49 yards, 3 TDs
2. Jeremiah Hasley: 7 receptions, 85 yards, 1 TD
3. Nate Sheppard: 22 rushes, 90 yards
4. Darian Mensah: 20-of-33, 175 yards, 1 TD passing; 3 rushes, 27 yards

North Carolina:

• Gio Lopez: 21-of-27, 204 yards, 1 TD passing; 9 rushes, 20 yards, 1 TD
• Jordan Shipp: 8 receptions, 83 yards, 1 TD
• Davion Gause: 8 rushes, 63 yards, 1 TD
• Kobe Paysour: 5 receptions, 63 yards

DURHAM – Duke turned a competitive game into a rout with 21 fourth-quarter points, defeating Elon 45-17 Thursday night at Wallace Wade Stadium in both teams' season opener.

The contest remained close through three quarters, with Elon trailing just 24-17 entering the final period. But the Blue Devils (1-0) scored three touchdowns in the fourth quarter to pull away from the Phoenix (0-1), who had kept pace for most of the evening.

The Phoenix entered halftime tied 10-10 and remained within striking distance until the game's final 14 minutes. Elon quarterback Landen Clark rushed for a 2-yard touchdown with 14:12 remaining in the fourth quarter, capping a 12-play, 75-yard drive that pulled the Phoenix within seven points at 24-17.

That would be as close as Elon would get.

Duke responded immediately with a five-play scoring drive aided by a 63-yard run from Anderson Castle that set up the Blue Devils at the Elon 8-yard line. Quarterback Darian Mensah found Sahmir Hagans for a 6-yard touchdown pass to push the lead to 31-17 with 11:28 remaining.

The floodgates opened from there. Que'Sean Brown returned a punt 78 yards for a touchdown just over two minutes later, and Peyton Jones added a 5-yard rushing score with 1:55 left to cap the scoring.

Mensah, making his Duke debut after transferring from Tulane, completed 27 of 34 passes for 389 yards and three touchdowns. The redshirt sophomore spread the ball effectively, with five different receivers catching at least three passes.

Hagans led Duke's receiving corps with five catches for 54 yards and two touchdowns, while Cooper Barkate added five receptions for 117 yards in his Blue Devils debut. Brown contributed six catches for 93 yards and finished with 175 all-purpose yards thanks to his punt return touchdown.

For much of the evening, Elon matched Duke's offensive output. The Phoenix gained 275 total yards, including 163 rushing yards on 44 carries. Clark led the ground attack with 61 yards on 18 carries while adding 101 passing yards on 10-of-16 completion.

TJ Thomas Jr., returning from a season-ending injury suffered last October, provided a spark for Elon with 95 all-purpose yards. His 44-yard run on the final play of the first quarter set up a 35-yard field goal by Luke Barnes that tied the game 3-3.

The Phoenix kept the game interesting with timely defensive plays. Brodie Carroll forced a fumble late in the second quarter that Dillon Pardue recovered, helping Elon maintain its halftime tie. Carroll finished with seven tackles in his Phoenix debut.

Darren James-Hamilton led all defenders with 11 tackles, including seven solo stops. The performance marked his second strong showing against Duke, following nine tackles in last year's season opener.

Duke's defense applied consistent pressure throughout the night, recording three sacks and 10 tackles for loss. The Blue Devils held Elon to just 11 yards on the Phoenix's first three possessions, setting an early tone.

The turning point came in the third quarter when Duke scored touchdowns on consecutive possessions to take control. Mensah connected with Hagans for a 15-yard score at 10:59 of the third quarter, capping an 83-yard drive that gave Duke a 17-10 lead.

Three minutes later, Mensah found Andrel Anthony for a 27-yard touchdown that extended the advantage to 24-10. The scoring pass came on the eighth play of an 88-yard drive that showcased Duke's offensive balance.

Duke's ground game produced 159 yards on 25 carries, with four different players recording rushing touchdowns. Castle led the way with 69 yards on just three carries, while Jones and Jaquez Moore each found the end zone.

The Blue Devils controlled the tempo despite being outpossessed 32:53 to 27:07, making their opportunities count with explosive plays. Duke averaged 9.3 yards per play compared to 4.4 for Elon.

Special teams played a significant role in the final outcome. Brown's 78-yard punt return touchdown broke the game open, while Jeff Yurk kept Elon competitive with strong punting. Yurk averaged 49.8 yards on five punts, placing two inside the Duke 20-yard line.

The early stages of the game suggested a much different outcome. Duke missed a 45-yard field goal on its opening drive, while Elon managed just 11 total yards on its first three offensive possessions. The Phoenix offense came alive midway through the first quarter when Thomas broke free for his 44-yard run.

That play sparked an Elon drive that resulted in Barnes' 35-yard field goal, knotting the score at 3-3 with 9:50 remaining in the second quarter. The Phoenix had driven 58 yards in 13 plays, showing the persistence that would keep them competitive.

Duke regained the lead with 8:01 left in the second quarter when Moore broke through for a 32-yard touchdown run. The score came on a four-play, 75-yard drive that began with explosive completions to Nate Sheppard and Hagans.

Elon answered immediately with perhaps its most impressive drive of the night. Clark found Zimere Winston for 29 yards to move into Duke territory, then capped the nine-play march with his 2-yard scoring run to tie the game 10-10 at halftime.

The second half belonged to Duke's passing attack. Mensah threw for 167 yards and two touchdowns in the third quarter alone, connecting with Hagans and Anthony for scores that established control.

Barkate emerged as a key weapon for the Blue Devils, hauling in catches of 17, 46 and 10 yards during Duke's first touchdown drive of the second half. His 46-yard reception moved Duke into the red zone and set up Hagans' first scoring catch.

Dylan Magazu provided Elon's most consistent offensive threat, catching three passes for 61 yards during the Phoenix's fourth-quarter touchdown drive. All three receptions came on the 12-play march that temporarily kept Elon's hopes alive.

The victory marked Duke's fourth consecutive season-opening win and produced the program's highest point total in an opener since 2017. For Elon, the loss dropped the Phoenix to 0-1 but showed they could compete with Atlantic Coast Conference opposition for extended periods.

Thomas finished his return from injury with 46 rushing yards and a 46-yard kickoff return, while Clark's 61 rushing yards marked the first time an Elon quarterback led the team in rushing since 2022. The Phoenix won the turnover battle 1-0 thanks to Carroll's forced fumble.

Duke will face a significant test next week when No. 12 Illinois visits Wallace Wade Stadium. Elon returns home to face Davidson at Rhodes Stadium, seeking its first victory of the season in front of the home crowd.

CHARLOTTE – If the 2025 Duke Blue Devils are going to return to Charlotte in December with an ACC Championship on the line, Manny Diaz believes it won’t be because of slogans or lofty goals. It will be because of standards. “The big message in our program this year is really, don’t tell me a lot about your goals, about your expectations, tell me about your standards to reach those goals,” Diaz said Thursday at ACC Kickoff.

Duke Head Co;ach Manny Diaz Photo Credit: ACC Media Services

Coming off a 9-win campaign in his first season at the helm, Diaz brought a confident, businesslike tone to the podium. His team, he said, is faster and stronger than it’s been in at least four years, numbers borne out during summer strength and conditioning workouts under David Feeley. “This is the strongest team we’ve had at Duke in the last four years,” Diaz said. “This is the fastest team we’ve had at Duke in the last four years… If we get challenged into an arm wrestling competition, we should expect to come out on top.”

But the games ahead won’t be decided in relay races or weight rooms. They’ll come down to whether Duke can meet the same standard, week after week, across what Diaz called “48 consecutive quarters.” “In a league that’s so tightly packed, that’s so competitive… it can be two or three quarters that dictates who’s back here in December and who’s not,” Diaz said.

Quarterback Upgrade, Culture Constant

One of the most watched additions to this year’s Duke team is quarterback Darian Mensah, a high-profile transfer from Tulane. The Blue Devils made a splash by landing the talented signal-caller, but Mensah made clear that the decision wasn’t purely transactional. “I think just the opportunity to compete at an elite conference like the ACC, an elite head coach with Manny, and an offense where you spread people out and throw the ball vertically,” Mensah said. “That’s the pieces that went into my decision.”

Duke QB Darian Mensah Photo Credit: ACC Media Services

Mensah acknowledged that adjusting to a new offense and culture has its challenges—especially given that Duke throws the ball far more than Tulane did, but said he’s embracing it fully. “It’s been my dream to play Power 5 football since I was a little kid,” he said. “It’s definitely not easy getting to know a new team when you had an old team just before… but I’m excited for the challenges because I know that’s where I’m going to elevate my game.”

The Blue Devils’ fast-paced offense, led by coordinator Jonathan Brewer, is already pushing Mensah to expand his game. “At Tulane we were more run-heavy, and this year will be more pass-heavy,” Mensah said. “So just the opportunity to showcase my talents even more than I did last year.” Mensah also credited Duke’s strength and conditioning culture, specifically Feeley’s demanding workouts—with helping him improve physically and fit into a program that “feeds off” its culture of intensity. “Everybody in the Duke program is wired the same,” Mensah said. “They feed off his energy.”

Veteran Voices: Rivers and Williams Set the Tone

While Mensah is new to Durham, Chandler Rivers and Wesley Williams are core pieces of the foundation Diaz inherited and is now building upon. Rivers, a senior cornerback with multiple preseason accolades, said his decision to stay at Duke amid coaching turnover and the explosion of the transfer portal came down to one thing: the locker room. “Honestly, it was the people in the locker room,” Rivers said. “Just the culture, I guess. It’s created by the players… I couldn’t leave that for anything.”

Diaz praised Rivers for his versatility—whether lining up at outside corner or in the slot, or even blitzing the quarterback. “He affects winning in so many ways,” Diaz said. “Some guys will get back there, and they can’t find a way to make a play. As you know, we like to get after the quarterback in our system… That’s what I talk about in terms of we’re proud of what he’s done.”

Duke DB Chandler Rivers Photo Credit: ACC Media Services

Rivers is coming off back-to-back seasons with pick-sixes against Florida State, and he said the team’s upset of the Seminoles in 2024—snapping a 23-game losing streak—validated years of effort. “It was amazing,” Rivers said. “It just shows that our preparation throughout the years and throughout the season helped us.”

He enters 2025 with national attention and personal expectations, though he insists his mindset is simple. “Just being better than I was last year,” Rivers said. “Take it a day at a time… keep my head down, prepare to the best of my ability.”

Up front, Williams—who led the team in sacks and tackles for loss in 2024—said the defensive line takes pride in carrying on a legacy of physicality and relentlessness. “There’s a powerful D-line lineage at Duke,” Williams said. “Myself and V.J., we’re trying to uphold that standard of being the nasty, physical Duke D-line that we’re used to having.”

Williams credited position coach Harland Bower for his development, calling him “passionate” and “caring. “If he could go out there and put the pads on right now and play, he would,” Williams said. “He loves ball. He cares about us as individuals and as men.”

Building with Trust, and the Transfer Portal

A major storyline over the past year has been how Diaz handled the transition from Mike Elko and earned buy-in from a team that was already on the rise. He emphasized consistency in building trust “You don’t really get to know more until you get into more high-stress environments like what football season brings,” Diaz said. “Trust is consistency over time.”

Reflecting on the one-on-one meetings he held with players when he arrived, Diaz shared a conversation with Williams that helped define his view of Duke’s culture “He said, we go on campus, and we feel like we’re around the best of the best,” Diaz said. “When we come into the locker room, I feel we have the best locker room of anywhere in the country.”

Duke DL Wesley Williams Photo Credit: ACC Media Services

Diaz has embraced the transfer portal, calling it a chance for “surgical” adjustments, but stressed that any new player must enhance, not disrupt, the locker room “When a guy walks in and [teammates] say, why did they bring him in… that’s going to lead to a problem,” Diaz said. “Morale is always above everything in every decision we make.”

Diaz also expanded on how Duke balances NIL deals with its “non-transactional” philosophy, noting that compensation and character don’t have to be at odds “It’s not like you have to invent this,” Diaz said. “You want to create a culture where the people who have the best work are compensated in the best way… It’s new to college football. It’s not new to capitalism and economics.”

Championship Standard, One Quarter at a Time

While Diaz was careful to avoid overhyping preseason expectations, he didn’t shy away from the idea that this team is built for big moments, if it can stay consistent. “We want to be a developmental program because we can be,” Diaz said. “We want guys to stay at Duke for four years to meet their goals.”

That foundation, he believes, gives the Blue Devils a unique chance to build something lasting in an era when college football often feels like musical chairs. “I really do believe we have a chance to build a proper team,” he said. “We were a team that didn’t flinch, that was mentally tough, and believed in one another.”

As Duke prepares to open fall camp Sunday night, the focus will be on translating that toughness into 48 quarters of excellence. “We train for three-quarters of the year with that in mind,” Williams said. “There’s a lot that goes into it… more than just playing hard and wanting to, you’ve got to do the details.”

The 2025 season will soon put those details to the test. 

WINSTON-SALEM – In a heart-stopping conclusion to their ACC rivalry matchup, the Duke Blue Devils snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, scoring a dramatic 39-yard touchdown with no time remaining to defeat Wake Forest 23-17 on Saturday morning.

The game, played in chilly 41-degree weather at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium, was a testament to Duke's resilience and quarterback Maalik Murphy's clutch performance. Murphy orchestrated a remarkable comeback, leading two fourth-quarter scoring drives that transformed a 17-10 deficit into an improbable victory.

With just 1:22 left on the clock and facing seemingly insurmountable odds, Murphy connected with wide receiver Jordan Moore on a breathtaking 39-yard touchdown pass that will be remembered as one of the season's most electrifying moments. The play capped a seven-play, 76-yard drive that epitomized the Blue Devils' never-say-die attitude.

The victory improved Duke's record to an impressive 9-3 overall and 5-3 in conference play, while Wake Forest concluded a challenging season at 4-8 and 2-6 in ACC competition.

“I’m so proud of the fact that we don’t panic. That’s a big part of it. We did start having more fun, even when we were down by 14 points.” Duke head coach Manny Diaz said. “I know that sounds funny, but guys started loosening up on the sideline. That made a big difference on our performance.”

Wake Forest seemed poised for victory after building a 17-10 lead early in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Hank Bachmeier had methodically moved the Demon Deacons' offense, connecting with receiver Horatio Fields for a pivotal 9-yard touchdown in the third quarter that appeared to give Wake Forest control.

But Murphy and the Blue Devils had other plans. With 12:57 remaining, Murphy himself punched in a 2-yard rushing touchdown to knot the game at 17-17, setting the stage for the dramatic finale.

Statistically, the game was remarkably balanced. Duke finished with 333 total yards compared to Wake Forest's 318, with both teams displaying offensive efficiency. Murphy completed 26 of 34 passes for 235 yards and the game-winning touchdown, while Star Thomas emerged as a critical ground threat, rushing for 66 yards and a crucial third-quarter touchdown.

Wake Forest's Demond Claiborne led all rushers with 67 yards, and Horatio Fields was a bright spot with six receptions for 84 yards and a touchdown. However, the Demon Deacons' offense struggled to maintain momentum when it mattered most.

Defensively, Duke's pressure was relentless. The Blue Devils recorded five sacks and 11 tackles for loss, with Cameron Bergeron's one-sack, one-tackle-for-loss performance standing out. Wake Forest's defense fought hard but couldn't prevent Murphy's late-game heroics.

The game's turning points were numerous, but none more significant than the final play. Moore's game-winning catch will undoubtedly be replayed countless times, a fitting conclusion to a thrilling ACC contest.

“Malik and I had made eye contact and I just decided to take it down the field," Moore said after the game. “I think that's a testament to our chemistry and having that trust in him to be able to make that kind of play.”

For Duke, the victory serves as a triumphant punctuation mark on a remarkable season. For Wake Forest, it was a bitter conclusion to a challenging year.

Next up for Duke is bowl season, where they'll look to carry this momentum forward. Wake Forest will begin preparations for a rebuilding campaign, hoping to learn from this season's challenges.