Duke fans have had plenty to smile about while North Carolina’s football situation keeps sliding into uglier territory.
The rivalry between the Blue Devils and Tar Heels is already one of the biggest in sports, and while basketball still sits at the center of it all, there’s no shortage of bad blood elsewhere. Duke has also enjoyed real football success lately, including an ACC Championship a season ago. UNC, meanwhile, has been stuck in a season that many would rather forget.
That backdrop makes the latest news around Michael Lombardi even easier for Duke fans to enjoy. Bruce Feldman described the situation in Chapel Hill in blunt terms, writing:
"Belichick’s first big move after getting the job was that he entrusted his general manager job to his old pal Michael Lombardi, naming him UNC’s GM after he took over in Chapel Hill. What’s followed has been a remarkable dumpster fire, and we actually only now may start to get a clearer picture of just how unwieldy this all may be,"
Feldman added:
"North Carolina hasn’t always been very good at football. UNC has had only one double-digit-win season in the past 30 years, but it’s been a long time since the Tar Heels have been this much of an embarrassment in football.
Yes, they had a 2-9 season under Larry Fedora a decade ago, but it didn’t feel like they were the laughingstock of the sport. They are now."
For Duke supporters, that kind of mess across the border is hard not to notice. There’s been plenty of trash talk between the two programs over the years, so when things go sideways in Chapel Hill, the reaction from Durham is probably what you’d expect.
Most fans still care most about what happens on the basketball court, and Duke has had the edge there too in recent years. But on the football side, the Blue Devils have been the ones with the better story to tell while UNC keeps giving everyone else a reason to laugh.
In Other News...
Why Duke Staff Reportedly See UNCs New Coach As A Threat
Michael Malones arrival at North Carolina has already changed the tenor of the rivalry for some people in Durham. College basketball insider Jeff Goodman reported that a few Duke staff members are taking a much different view of the Tar Heels new coach than they did of Hubert Davis, seeing Malone as the kind of proven, hard-driving presence who can raise the bar quickly.
The concern is less about a splashy first impression than what Malone brings with him from the NBA. His championship background and reputation for relentless work have prompted Duke to treat this hire as more than just another coaching change in Chapel Hill, and that alone says plenty about how seriously the Blue Devils expect the rivalry to be tested in the years ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Jared Richardson Is Suddenly Central To Dukes Biggest Offensive Debate
Dukes offense is heading into the new season with a very different look, and the receiver room may be the biggest reason why. The Blue Devils have to replace their top three wideouts, leaving a major void around new quarterback Walker Eget, the San Jose State transfer who is set to take over the huddle. In that kind of turnover, every route, every rep and every bit of spring chemistry matters more than usual.
That is why Jared Richardson has become such an important name in the conversation. The Penn transfer arrives with a proven track record after leading the Ivy League in receptions and touchdowns in 2025, and Duke appears to be leaning on him to become the new top target almost immediately. If he settles in quickly, it could ease one of the biggest transition points on the offense. If he does not, the Blue Devils may spend a lot of time searching for answers on the outside. [Read more 🡒]
Jon Scheyer Is Back In The NBA Coaching Conversation Again
Jon Scheyers name keeps surfacing in NBA conversations, and not just as a former player who already knows the league. The Duke coach is now being viewed as one of the college voices NBA decision-makers continue to respect, with his work in Durham keeping him on the radar as teams look ahead to future coaching openings.
There was already at least one notable flirtation in the past, with the Mavericks showing interest before going in another direction. Even so, the broader point remains the same for Duke fans: Scheyers profile is only growing, and if the NBA starts shopping for another young coach with credibility on both levels, his phone figure to ring again. [Read more 🡒]