Duke Football Receives Major Ranking Ahead of 2026 Season

The Duke Blue Devils are coming off a great 2025 football season as they won the ACC Title. Duke will look to repeat their success in the 2026 season and was ranked 59th among College Football teams in The Athletic.

The Blue Devils would likely be ranked higher if quarterback Darian Mensah hadn't transferred to the Miami Hurricanes. 

Mensah had an incredible 2025 season for Duke, completing 66.8 percent of his passes for 3,973 yards, 34 touchdowns, and six interceptions. 

With Mensah on the way out, the Blue Devils will start Walker Eget, who won a training camp battle over Dan Mahan. Eget is a transfer portal addition from San Jose State, as he completed 59 percent of his passes for 3,051 yards, 17 touchdowns, and nine interceptions.

"When it all came down to it, it was just about consistency, which is normally what you expect from an older guy — keeping the same level day after day," head coach Manny Diaz said about naming Eget the starter. "I think we were at that moment."

"Just given our offseason, I think the team needed a starting quarterback," Diaz said. "Like I said, they'll follow both, but I think they're happy now that they know Walker is the number one."

Duke will lean on star running back Nate Sheppard to lead the offense and take pressure off of Eget. Sheppard had a phenomenal freshman campaign, rushing for 1,132 yards and 11 touchdowns, along with 37 receptions for 286 yards and a touchdown.

Despite having Sheppard leading the offense, it will be a difficult path for the Blue Devils to repeat as ACC Champions. Duke will have to go up against Miami, Clemson, Georgia Tech, SMU, and Pittsburgh.

Miami could be one of the best teams in college football once again, as they fell in the National Championship Game last season. Clemson could also have a bounce-back season after struggling in 2025.

Although they lost Mensah, the Blue Devils have a solid roster and will be competitive once again.

If Eget plays well for Duke, that will give them a legit shot at competing for a second straight ACC Title.