The Duke Blue Devils are scheduled for a rematch at home against the Tulane Green Wave, but without the main character in the story.
The Duke Blue Devils are looking to pick up the pieces after the shocking departure of their former starting quarterback ahead of a promising future season. They won’t receive much sympathy from Tulane Green Wave fans, who are getting to enjoy the other side of “you lose ‘em how you get ‘em” when it comes to quarterback Darian Mensah. Mensah entered the transfer portal on the first day it opened in 2024 and left the Green Wave for the Blue Devils after going from third on the depth chart to starter as a redshirt freshman. One year later, Mensah left Duke on the last day it was open. That certainly must make Tulane fans feel a bit better about things, and it’s a decision that has implications for the Green Wave as they look to the 2026 football season under new coach Will Hall.
Tulane will kick off their season in a rematch against the Blue Devils on Sept. 5 in Durham, N.C., as they look to build off their College Football Playoff appearance last season. There was a point where the game was in question as the ACC moved to a nine-game conference schedule. However, Duke elected to get rid of their matchup against UConn and keep the Green Wave on the schedule for their season opener. It’s perhaps the best game to catch the Blue Devils, all things considered, as they no longer have a starting quarterback or really any option for his replacement.
Any option they go with at this point is, on the surface, a downgrade from Mensah. Now, the QB2 can always be a danger – just look at Trinidad Chambliss. But Duke went all in around Mensah and built their roster accordingly, which is now bleeding some important pieces following Mensah’s departure, such as top target Cooper Barkate. Barkate had five catches for 67 yards in the Blue Devils’ 34-27 loss last season.
Tulane got the best of Duke the first time, but Mensah did all he could to lead a comeback once they were down 24-3 at the end of the first half. He finished the night 30-of-51 attempts for 313 yards, three touchdowns and one interception in his return to Yulman Stadium. The Green Wave certainly won’t miss Mensah or Barkate in the rematch at Wallace Wade Stadium. And they’ll be the first team to get a crack at Mensah’s replacement, who is presumed to be San Jose State transfer quarterback Walker Eget. The team added him on Jan. 27 after Mensah announced his planned departure.
Now, Eget certainly has experience as the signal caller for the Spartans for the last four seasons, but he shouldn’t be expected to pose the same aerial threat. Tulane may be able to capitalize on some growing pains of a new roster, though they’ll have to look to do the same around their own next unknown quarterback for the 2026 season.