Duke kept its early-season roll going in emphatic fashion, returning home from last weekend’s huge road win over Illinois and beating Stanford 35-7 to move to 3-0 in the 2026 campaign.
The Blue Devils did what good teams are supposed to do after a statement victory: they stayed locked in, handled business, and put one of the bottom teams in the ACC away with control on both sides of the ball for most of the afternoon.
At the center of it all was Nate Sheppard, who keeps stacking up performances that demand attention. The sophomore ripped off 23 carries, totaled 156 yards from scrimmage, scored three times, and averaged 6.7 yards per carry. He was the engine again, plain and simple, and Duke’s offense ran through him when it needed a steady hand and a knockout punch.
Jeremiah Hasley also found his rhythm in a way Duke had been waiting for. The tight end, who came into the year with a case as the ACC’s best at the position, had not been fully settled into the passing game through the first two weeks. That changed against Stanford, where he was one of Walker Eget’s favorite options and finished as the Blue Devils’ leading receiver with five catches for 88 yards.
Jared Richardson’s day mattered too, even if the numbers won’t jump off the page. The Penn transfer was expected to step in as Duke’s top wideout, but through the first two games he had not made an impact and didn’t record a catch.
Against Stanford, that changed. Richardson hauled in three passes for 44 yards, a modest line, but an important step after a quiet start.
Up front, Duke’s defensive line looked far more like the unit that flashed in Week 1 than the one that took the field against Illinois. The group got its edge back against Stanford, and Bryce Davis was a big reason why. The sophomore consistently got pressure, showed the athleticism that made him such a coveted recruit, and finished with a tackle and two pass deflections.
There was also a mixed outing for Northwestern transfer Evan Smith. He made a major impact against Illinois with his fourth-quarter interception of Katin Houser, and he appeared to see more snaps against Stanford.
But this time the result wasn’t nearly as clean. Smith gave up a touchdown to Caden High and was called for defensive holding in the third quarter.
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 🡒]
Duke Faces Its First Real ACC Test With Early Momentum On Line
Duke has opened the 2026 season with a burst of momentum, stacking two wins and banking an eye-catching road victory at Illinois along the way. Now the Blue Devils turn to Stanford, and with quarterback Walker Eget settling in after arriving from San Jose State, this looks like the sort of early ACC test that can tell a lot about how real this start might be.
Stanford brings enough familiarity and enough talent to make this a useful measuring stick for Dukes progress, especially with the Blue Devils trying to protect the confidence built in September. Egets role will be central again as Duke looks to keep the offense on schedule, but the bigger question is whether the Blue Devils can turn a promising opening into the kind of complete performance that travels deeper into conference play. [Read more 🡒]