The Duke Blue Devils have lost a star player to a top Big Ten school in the transfer portal.
The Duke Blue Devils just completed a terrific 2025 college football season in which they went 9-5, won their first ACC championship since 1962 and defeated Arizona State in the Sun Bowl.
However, that did not stop some key players from leaving.
Take star safety Terry Moore, for example, who unfortunately missed the entire campaign as a result of suffering a torn ACL in last year's Gator Bowl.
Moore decided to enter the transfer portal this winter, and the former three-star recruit has found a new home, committing to the Ohio State Buckeyes, via Hayes Fawcett of On 3.
Considering Ohio State is losing superstar safety Caleb Downs to the NFL Draft, Moore should have a great chance to start — or at least receive significant playing time — for the Buckeyes in 2026.
Moore arrived at Duke in 2022 but did not begin receiving significant playing time until his second season, when he registered 43 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.
Then, in 2024, Moore broke out, racking up 71 tackles, seven tackles for loss, a sack, four interceptions, a couple of forced fumbles and six passes defended, establishing himself as one of the better safeties in the country.
Terry Moore. Credit: Zachary Taft-Imagn Images.The Blue Devils have landed a pair of safeties in the transfer portal this offseason, nabbing Che Ojarikre and Patrick Smith-Young. So hopefully, the loss of Moore doesn't sting too much.
After all, Duke was able to find considerable success without Moore this year, so chances are, Manny Diaz's squad will be alright next fall.
That being said, the Blue Devils did struggle defensively in 2025, finishing toward the bottom of the ACC in both yards allowed and points allowed.
Duke has landed seven defensive players in the portal in total this winter, and Diaz still has work to do on that side of the ball.
The Blue Devils were successful thanks to their explosive offense this past year, led by quarterback Darian Mensah, running back Nate Sheppard and wide receiver Cooper Barkate.
Diaz has managed to add some more intriguing weapons for Duke in the portal, as well, so the Blue Devils' offense should once again be dynamic in 2026.
The defense, though, is a big question mark.