Duke HC Manny Diaz faces a pivotal rebuild after losing star talent to the portal. Can a transfer-heavy offense and veteran defense navigate a brutal November slate to remain competitive?
The Duke Blue Devils won the ACC championship despite entering the championship game with five losses.
The Blue Devils won their bowl game, finishing the season with a 9-5 record.
Duke appeared ready to be on the incline for a better season in 2026 before quarterback Darian Mensah transferred to Miami. Wide receiver Cooper Barkate decided to join Mensah with the Hurricanes.
Duke head coach Manny Diaz has proven to be a solid hire for the program, but the team may need a little more time for homegrown talent to compete for a College Football Playoff spot.
Duke Predictions for 2026 season
Wins: Tulane, Stanford, William & Mary, Boston College, Wake Forest
Losses: Illinois, Georgia Tech, North Carolina, Virginia, NC State, Miami, Clemson
Duke has a relatively easy start to the upcoming season, but will play NC State, Miami, and Clemson in back-to-back-to-back weeks in November.
Georgia Tech, North Carolina, Virginia, and NC State could be toss-ups. Duke can win those matchups if Diaz develops his players during training camp this summer.
How the offense looks
Per OurLads, Duke is expected to start five transfers on offense for the upcoming season: WR Jared Richardson, WR Javen Nicholas, LT Nick Del Grande, RT Braden Miller, and QB Walker Eget.
Eget, a transfer from San Jose State, has big shoes to fill for the upcoming season. He threw for 3,051 yards, 17 touchdowns, and nine interceptions last season.
Eget will face tougher competition in the ACC. The Blue Devils’ additions at receiver should help Eget, but it remains to be seen if they can be explosive enough to put the team in contention to return to the ACC championship.
How the defense looks
Duke is only expected to start three transfers on defense: DT Owen Wafle, S Patrick Smith-Young, and CB Che Ojarike. That's good news for Diaz, who will have continuity on defense for the upcoming season.
With questions on offense, the defense will need to be the star of the show for the Blue Devils. The unit will be tested against Mensah when they play Miami, Illinois, and Clemson.
