Duke gets another chance to keep its hot start rolling Saturday when the Blue Devils host William & Mary at Wallace Wade Stadium in Durham.
Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET, and Duke enters the game with a shot at its second 4-0 start under head coach Manny Diaz. The Blue Devils are coming off a 35-7 win over Stanford to open ACC play, while William & Mary arrives at 2-2 after a 52-27 loss to Fordham.
The matchup also comes with a long gap in the series. Duke and William & Mary are meeting for the first time since 1955, and the Tribe still lead the all-time series 6-1.
For those looking to watch, the game will air on ACC Network Extra. Kevin Fitzgerald will handle play-by-play, with Jeff Woody serving as analyst. The game can also be streamed on FUBO, which offers a free trial for new subscribers.
Duke is a massive favorite heading into the afternoon. BetMGM listed the Blue Devils as a -43.5-point favorite, with an over/under of 62.5 and no moneyline listed because of the lopsided spread.
One prediction had Duke rolling to a 45-3 win, with Nate Sheppard expected to stay in the spotlight after a blistering start. Sheppard has piled up an FBS-leading 528 rushing yards and eight total touchdowns, tied for the most by a non-quarterback. Duke’s defense has also found its footing again, and Walker Eget has continued settling in while managing the offense.
In Other News...
Duke's ACC Push Just Got A Lift From An Unexpected Place
Duke heads into its bye week at 4-0 after a 62-7 win over William & Mary, a result that gave the Blue Devils a little extra breathing room as the ACC race starts to take shape. The passing game was a focal point again, with Walker Eget and Dan Mahan both working efficiently, and the day also offered a look at how much young talent is beginning to filter into the rotation on both sides of the ball.
For a team trying to stay in the mix for the league title, the encouraging part is obvious: Duke keeps finding ways to stack wins while spreading the load beyond the usual core. The lingering issue is less about the scoreboard than the style points, because the defense still gave up a few explosive moments that will matter more against better opponents, and that remains the kind of wrinkle the Blue Devils have to clean up before the schedule tightens again. [Read more 🡒]
Duke Heads Into The Bye Looking Like A Real ACC Threat
Duke rolled past William & Mary 62-7 to move to 4-0, and the performance gave the Blue Devils another reminder of how complete they have looked through the first month. Walker Eget and Dan Mahan helped keep the offense moving, Nate Sheppard added a steady presence on the ground, and a deep group of receivers found room to work as Duke kept layering big plays onto a fast start to the season.
The defense was just as impressive, suffocating William & Mary for most of the afternoon and never allowing the game to get comfortable. A brief spark from the visitors was the lone real threat, but otherwise Duke controlled the line of scrimmage and heads into its bye week with the kind of balance and momentum that makes ACC opponents take notice. [Read more 🡒]
Duke Got Exactly What It Needed Before ACC Play Intensifies
Duke got a clean tune-up at Wallace Wade Stadium, rolling past William & Mary 62-7 to move to 4-0 under Manny Diaz. It was the kind of afternoon the Blue Devils wanted before ACC play tightens, with starting quarterback Walker Eget helping set the tone and the offense finding plenty of rhythm against an overmatched opponent.
The deeper value may have come from the added snaps elsewhere, as redshirt freshman Dan Mahan took advantage of extended work and the defense settled in after halftime. Duke next gets Georgia Tech on October 10, and the bigger question is whether this kind of depth and second-half control can travel once the competition gets sharper. [Read more 🡒]