Duke’s latest surge has the Blue Devils knocking on the door of the top 25 again.
After Saturday’s 47-2 rout of Boston College at Wallace Wade Stadium, Duke climbed to 76 votes in the latest US LBM Coaches Poll, placing Manny Diaz’s team just outside the rankings. The Blue Devils are 6-2 and have turned that record into something even more meaningful: bowl eligibility for a program-record fifth straight season.
The win over Boston College had all the ingredients of a statement game. Nate Sheppard powered the offense with a record-setting day, rushing for five touchdowns to set a single-game Duke mark. He also reached 18 total touchdowns on the season, another program record.
Duke’s defense did its part, too, shutting down Boston College’s offense completely. The Eagles’ only points came on a return of a blocked extra-point attempt, leaving the Blue Devils in full control from start to finish.
The poll climb marks a return to familiar territory for Duke this season. The Blue Devils spent two weeks in the Coaches Poll after opening 4-0, but dropped out after back-to-back losses. Now, with momentum building again, they are back in the conversation.
In Sunday’s rankings, Duke was tied at 76 votes with UTSA. South Carolina led the group of teams receiving votes with 91, followed by Florida with 81. Other teams drawing votes included Virginia Tech, Oregon, Minnesota, Oklahoma State, Liberty, North Texas, Wisconsin, Memphis, North Dakota State, Nebraska and Cincinnati.
Florida was the only school to drop out of the poll, falling from No. 20.
In Other News...
Duke Suddenly Faces A Manny Diaz Problem It Couldn't Avoid
Florida States decision to move on from Mike Norvell after a 3-5 start has immediately sent the coaching carousel spinning, and Duke is now staring at a familiar kind of offseason anxiety. Manny Diaz has done enough in Durham to make himself a coveted name elsewhere, and his resume now includes an ACC Championship, the kind of accomplishment that naturally puts a coach on the radar when a major job opens.
For Duke, the complication is obvious: Diaz is not just another candidate in a rumor cycle, but someone with deep Florida State ties as an alumnus and former graduate assistant. ESPN has already linked him to the vacancy, which means the Blue Devils may have to navigate a situation they would rather not face so soon after building momentum under his watch. [Read more 🡒]
Manny Diaz Sent A Clear Message After Duke's Statement Win
Dukes defense set the tone in a statement win over Boston College, smothering a rushing attack that had been one of the more reliable parts of the Eagles offense and keeping it under 60 yards while the starters were on the field. On the other side, Nate Shepherd kept adding to a breakout season, scoring five touchdowns and setting a new school mark for touchdowns in a season with four games still left to play.
Afterward, Manny Diaz made it clear the performance was about more than one big afternoon. He praised the way Duke prepared for the game, but he also stressed the need to stay humble and keep the focus where it belongs with more important challenges still ahead. For a team that just turned in one of its most complete showings of the year, the message was simple: enjoy it, then move on quickly. [Read more 🡒]
Bill O'Brien Sends Clear Message After Boston College's Duke Collapse
A rough afternoon against Duke left Boston College with plenty to clean up, and the penalty count told much of the story. Bill OBrien didnt try to soften it afterward, calling it a rough day for everyone and taking responsibility for not getting his team prepared well enough for the moment.
The bigger message inside the locker room, though, was about how the Eagles respond from here. OBrien stressed unity over blame, making it clear there would be no finger-pointing as Boston College turns the page and starts getting ready for Florida State. [Read more 🡒]