Duke lost a key part of the offense for next season when quarterback Darian Mensah left to join Miami for the 2026 campaign.
Duke made impressive strides in head coach Manny Diaz's second season with the program.
The Blue Devils finished the year with four consecutive wins, including a 27-20 upset of then-No. 17 Virginia in the ACC Championship Game.
Team captain and quarterback Darian Mensah threw for 3,973 yards, 34 touchdowns, and six interceptions during his first and only season with Duke. He transferred to play for Duke after spending two seasons with Tulane.
In 2025, Mensah saw his former school make the College Football Playoff. After the Blue Devils' season was over, the young quarterback decided to transfer to Miami, who made the CFP national championship.
Mensah was under contract with Duke but was able to reach a settlement with the school to buy out his contract. Now, he's with the Hurricanes.
During an appearance on "McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning" on Monday, ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum said he wasn't surprised by Mensah leaving for Miami.
“It’s good for lawyers, it’s going to open the door for more litigation, and we shouldn’t be surprised andnd I know we’re not,” Finebaum said. “Fans call up and say, ‘Don’t these guys have deals?’ And yeah they do.
"But the real issue is how iron-clad they are, how willing to litigate they are. I think the real issue is how ironclad they are... And this is really, this is a bizarre moment in college athletics where you're buying yourself out of a contract."
Finebaum had a crushing message for Duke, arguing they lost more from seeing Mensah depart to an ACC rival than what the quarterback gave in the settlement.
"I mean, I didn't have a problem with this deal," Finebaum said. "I think Miami got a lot out of it.
"I don't know what Duke got out of it other than losing a future star, but at least they got something as opposed to having completely wasted a bunch of money.”
Duke didn't waste money on Mensah's contract, but they built a roster that would support the quarterback. In a way, the Blue Devils did waste money on Mensah, even if they reached a settlement via the buyout.