Duke’s 2026 start has already flipped the script on plenty of preseason chatter, and now the Blue Devils get their ACC opener with a chance to keep the momentum rolling. Manny Diaz’s team is 2-0, and both wins came against opponents that beat Duke a year ago. That alone has made the opening stretch feel like a sharp response to all the noise about the program dropping off after Darian Mensah’s transfer.
The results have been strong, but the path to 2-0 has looked different from week to week. Duke opened with a 17-3 win over Tulane at home, then followed that up with a 31-27 road victory at Illinois. In that second game, San Jose State transfer quarterback Walker Eget settled in after an uneven debut, and this matchup could be the one where he really gets rolling with the Duke receivers.
Eget also has a history against Stanford that stands out. In two previous meetings with the Cardinal during his career, he has carved them up, and he’ll try to do it again in Durham.
Stanford, meanwhile, has also given Duke running back Nate Sheppard a little extra motivation this week, which has become something of a pattern. It seems to happen often enough that you almost have to wonder when teams will stop doing it. But probably not anytime soon.
The betting line, via FanDuel as of 6am ET on Saturday, has the total at 51.5. Duke is a heavy favorite at -375 on the moneyline, while Stanford sits at +290.
Stanford is better than it has been over the last few seasons, but there’s still work to do. Duke should be able to attack a Cardinal secondary that has struggled badly through the first two games. Eget has already had success against Stanford, and with more talent around him now than he had in those earlier San Jose State matchups, there’s reason to expect that trend to continue.
The Cardinal will likely spend plenty of energy trying to slow down the run, but that doesn’t guarantee much against Sheppard. He’s the centerpiece of every defensive game plan, and he’s used to that kind of attention.
It rarely changes much. He’s one of the best running backs in the country, and even if Stanford slows him early, it feels like only a matter of time before he finds a crease and breaks free.
Stanford can still generate some offense through the air, but Duke showed against Illinois that Diaz’s group can adjust as the game unfolds and put the clamps on an opposing attack. The Cardinal should hang around for a while, but Duke looks positioned to separate late and win by two scores.
In Other News...
Duke Has Controlled Stanford But One Problem Could Still Cost Them
Duke spent most of the first half doing what it wanted against Stanford at Wallace Wade Stadium on Homecoming Weekend, leaning on the run and forcing the Cardinal into long stretches of uncomfortable offense. The Blue Devils controlled the line of scrimmage, got consistent pressure on Stanford quarterback Walker Eget and turned that into sacks and turnovers while building a 14-7 halftime lead.
Nate Sheppard has been the spark for Duke, giving the offense a steady ground presence and helping keep Stanford on its heels. Still, the game was not entirely settled before the break, because the Cardinal trimmed the margin late in the half when Davis Warren found Caden High for a touchdown, a reminder that one clean drive can quickly change the feel of a game that had looked firmly in Dukes hands. [Read more 🡒]
Duke Made Stanford Regret Its Pregame Confidence Fast
Stanford arrived with some extra confidence and left with a reminder that talk only goes so far once the ball is kicked. Before the game, Cardinal defensive back Brandon Nicholson made a public claim that nobody would be able to run against Stanfords defense, and Duke took that personally in the kind of way football teams do best. Nate Sheppard set the tone on the ground while the Blue Devils controlled the game and rolled to a 35-7 win.
Dukes defense made sure Stanford never found much of a rhythm, either. Manny Diazs team kept the Cardinal under constant pressure, and the pass rush plus coverage repeatedly closed off clean answers for Stanfords offense. The result was one of those complete performances that can flip the tenor of a season, and for a Duke team that has leaned into momentum, it was another sign that the Blue Devils can impose their style when everything is clicking. [Read more 🡒]
Dukes 3-0 Start Just Clarified A Few Key Roles
Dukes 35-7 win over Stanford on Saturday did more than keep the Blue Devils unbeaten at 3-0. It started to sort out where some of the early-season production is coming from, with the offense leaning on a balanced passing game and a ground attack that looked increasingly central to what this team wants to do. Jeremiah Hasleys five catches for 88 yards and Jared Richardsons three receptions for 44 yards gave the passing game enough shape to complement the bigger story up front.
Nate Sheppard was the clear engine of the night, handling 23 carries for 156 yards and three touchdowns as Duke controlled the game at home. On defense, Bryce Davis made his presence felt on the line, while Evan Smiths night showed the sort of learning moments that come with early-season work, including a defensive holding penalty and a touchdown allowed. For a team still defining roles, the Stanford game offered a useful snapshot of who is stepping into them fastest. [Read more 🡒]