Roster gutting and high-profile transfers have the defending champions reeling. Duke head coach Manny Diaz must now navigate a brutal rebuild to keep the Blue Devils from a bottom-tier finish.
Duke pulled off the second biggest surprise of college football last year winning the ACC with a five number in the loss column. (The biggest surprise was Indiana winning its first ever national title.)
me of the titans in the ACC during the upcoming season.
Duke pulled off the second biggest surprise of college football last year, winning the ACC with a five-number loss column. (The biggest surprise was Indiana winning its first-ever national title.)
After a strong finish to 2025, the Blue Devils appeared to be ascending in the sport, ready to take on some of the titans in the ACC during the upcoming season.
Things immediately changed for the Blue Devils with quarterback Darian Mensah and wide receiver Cooper Barkate transferring to Miami. The team went from an ACC contender to a program that will be fortunate to make a bowl game.
Steve Lassan of Athlon Sports has a humbling prediction for the 2025 ACC champs. He ranked Duke at No. 13 (right above rival North Carolina), noting that the team has way too many players to replace on offense and defense to be ready to win the conference.
"With just three starters back, (Manny) Diaz has a busy fall ahead to find the right answers at all three levels," Lassan wrote.
"Considering the late QB swap, and overall transition on both sides of the ball, just getting back to the postseason would be a good year for Diaz’s program."
Lassan believes the winner of the quarterback battle between Walker Eget and Dan Mahan will have a hard time filling Mensah's shoes. The Blue Devils will rely on Nate Sheppard to pick up where he left off in the backfield.
"Coach Manny Diaz added San Jose State signal-caller Walker Eget to compete with freshman Dan Mahan, but defending the program’s ACC title without Mensah is tough," he wrote.
"Running back Nate Sheppard returns after rushing for 1,132 yards last season and should be the focal point behind a line returning two starters. Jeremiah Hasley (40 catches in ‘25) should be among the ACC’s top tight ends. Duke’s defense has room to improve after giving up 6.2 yards a play last season."
Duke does have one thing in their favor for the upcoming season. Outside of a road game at Miami and a home game against Clemson in back-to-back weeks in November, the Blue Devils have an easy ACC schedule.
Things immediately changed for the Blue Devils with quarterback Darian Mensah and wide receiver Cooper Barkate transferred to Miami. The team went from an ACC contender to a program that will be fortunate to make a bowl game.
Steve Lassan of Athlon Sports has a humbling prediction for the 2025 ACC champs. He ranked Duke at No. 13 (right above rival North Carolina), noting that team has way too many players to replace on offense and defense to be ready to win the conference.
"With just three starters back, (Manny) Diaz has a busy fall ahead to find the right answers at all three levels," Lassan wrote.
"Considering the late QB swap, and overall transition on both sides of the ball, just getting back to the postseason would be a good year for Diaz’s program."
Lassan believes the winner of quarterback battle between Walker Eget and Dan Mahan will have a hard time filling Mensah's shoes. The Blue Devils will rely on Nate Sheppard to pick up where he left off in the backfield.
"Coach Manny Diaz added San Jose State signal-caller Walker Eget to compete with freshman Dan Mahan, but defending the program’s ACC title without Mensah is tough," he wrote.
"Running back Nate Sheppard returns after rushing for 1,132 yards last season and should be the focal point behind a line returning two starters. Jeremiah Hasley (40 catches in ‘25) should be among the ACC’s top tight ends. Duke’s defense has room to improve after giving up 6.2 yards a play last season."
Duke does have one thing in their favor for the upcoming season. Outside of a road game at Miami and a home game against Clemson in back-to-back weeks in November, the Blue Devils have an easy ACC schedule.
