Duke’s 35-7 win over Stanford didn’t just push the Blue Devils to 3-0. It also kept the early-season conversation pointed at one obvious place: Nate Sheppard.
The sophomore back turned another game into a showcase, piling up 154 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries while adding a receiving score. Through three games, the Louisiana native has already racked up 590 yards from scrimmage and eight total touchdowns.
After what he did against Illinois in Week 2, this was more of the same, and the production is starting to feel impossible to ignore. Forget the Doak Walker Award; Sheppard could truly be a Heisman candidate.
Duke didn’t need a fireworks show from Walker Eget, but it did need steadiness, and that’s what it got after a rough first-drive mistake. Eget tried to force a ball into the end zone from short yardage and was picked off, a bad early decision from the San Jose State transfer.
After that, though, he settled in and handled the offense the way Duke wants him to. He finished 14 of 24 for 202 yards, a touchdown, and that interception, giving the Blue Devils the kind of game management they can live with.
The passing game still has some sorting out to do, which has been one of the more interesting parts of this offense through the first month. Idaho State transfer Jonah Burton, who led Duke in receiving in the first two weeks, was held to one catch for 10 yards. Penn transfer Jared Richardson, meanwhile, finally got involved after going without a catch in the first two games, finishing with three receptions for 44 yards.
Jeremiah Hasley remained the most reliable target in the group. The tight end led Duke with five catches for 88 yards, and this looked like the kind of role fans should expect from him going forward.
Behind Sheppard, Rutgers transfer CJ Campbell continued to look like a useful second option in the backfield. He carried nine times for 42 yards and kept earning extra yards by breaking tackles.
In garbage time, freshmen Jayvian Tanelus and CJ Givers got their chances, and Tanelus scored his first collegiate touchdown. The depth at running back showed up again after being a talking point all through fall camp.
Duke’s front also looked far more like itself after being less disruptive against Illinois. The Blue Devils finished with four sacks, five tackles for loss, and five pass deflections. Tyshon Reed and Kevin O’Connor each had two sacks, both career highs for the juniors, while cornerback Dylan Flowers led the team with seven total tackles.
Bryce Davis didn’t fill the stat sheet with only one tackle and two pass deflections, but he still made his presence felt. He was creating pressure throughout the game and had a real impact early, even if the numbers didn’t fully capture it.
At 3-0, Duke is off to its second 3-0 start in three years under Manny Diaz, and that matters after an offseason filled with doubt from outside the program. The Blue Devils have now followed the road win at Illinois with a lopsided home victory, and the schedule sets up nicely from here.
Next up is William & Mary at home, followed by a trip to Georgia Tech in Atlanta and then a home game against North Carolina. Duke, Miami, and Pittsburgh are the only ACC teams sitting at 3-0, and the Blue Devils enter that next stretch in a strong position.
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 🡒]