Duke’s football momentum took a hit in the eyes of preseason ACC projections, with the Blue Devils landing in the bottom half of the league for 2026.
That’s a sharp turn for a program that just put together one of its best seasons in recent memory. Duke won the ACC title by beating Virginia in overtime, then followed it up with a bowl win to carry some confidence into the offseason.
But the biggest offseason storyline has been the departure of quarterback Darian Mensah, who left for Miami. Manny Diaz has another starter in place under center, but replacing a player like Mensah is no small task.
The latest projection came Tuesday from USA TODAY, which placed Duke at No. 12 in its ACC preview. That puts the Blue Devils behind California and ahead of Wake Forest, North Carolina, Syracuse, Stanford and Boston College.
Here’s how USA TODAY stacked the league:
Miami
SMU
Louisville
Clemson
Virginia Tech
Virginia
Georgia Tech
Pittsburgh
Florida State
North Carolina State
California
Duke
Wake Forest
North Carolina
Syracuse
Stanford
Boston College
The ranking comes on the heels of Phil Steele’s preseason ACC list, which also slotted Duke at No. 11 earlier this week.
USA TODAY added another sting by naming Mensah its newcomer of the year after his move to Miami.
There was at least a little recognition for Duke elsewhere in the preview. Linebacker Luke Mergott and punter Kade Reynolds both earned honorable mention status, though the Blue Devils did not place a player on USA TODAY’s preseason All-ACC team.
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At the 2026 ACC Football Kickoff, Mensah finally spoke publicly about the exit and the timing behind it, offering the first real explanation for how it all unfolded. The comments gave some clarity, but not enough to make the episode any less jarring for Duke fans, especially with the quarterback now looking back on a move that still carries plenty of emotional and roster fallout for both sides. [Read more 🡒]
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ACC Scrambles For New Money As Duke Faces Bigger SEC Gap
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The league said it brought in $826.5 million in total revenue for the 2024-25 sports season, with an average distribution of $47.1 million per full-share school, and it expects to top $900 million next season. The ACC has also adjusted how it shares money, rewarding programs that draw more TV viewers and find more postseason success, while new sponsorships, including a deal with AI cybersecurity firm ReliaQuest, are becoming part of the leagues broader push to close the gap. [Read more 🡒]