Jay Bilas is not shy about where he thinks Duke stands heading into the new season.
With the Blue Devils set to open the 2026-27 campaign against Army on Monday night, the former Duke standout made it clear he sees Jon Scheyer’s team as the standard in the sport right now. Duke is coming off an Elite Eight run from a year ago, and Scheyer has put together a roster that mixes transfer additions, the top recruiting class, and key returners from that group.
This version of Duke does not have a Cooper Flagg or a Cameron Boozer, but the overall picture may be even more complete. The Blue Devils’ depth stands out immediately, and the argument can be made that their second unit alone would belong near the top 25. There is talent everywhere on the roster, and this group looks equipped to play in different ways depending on what the night calls for.
Bilas backed that up in an interview with Awful Announcing before the season tips off. He called Duke "the most talented team in the country, top to bottom." His case was simple: the Blue Devils have enough pieces to go 10 deep, enough experience to handle different styles, and enough guard play to stack up with anyone.
That matters, because good guards and defense usually separate the real contenders from everyone else. Duke appears to check both boxes. Bilas also pointed to the team’s shooting, which showed up in preseason wins at Kansas and in a comfortable home victory over Tennessee.
Still, even with all that praise, Bilas stopped short of crowning Duke without reservation. He acknowledged that picking a preseason No. 1 to stay there all the way through the season is a hard thing to do, especially with Florida in the mix. The respect is obvious, but so is the reality: Duke has to go prove it once the games count.
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Duke's Nate Sheppard Carries A Bigger Concern Into Boston College
Duke got back on track with a road win at Virginia, snapping a two-game skid and giving the Blue Devils a little breathing room as they turn their attention to Boston College. A big part of the offense has been sophomore running back Nate Sheppard, who has emerged as one of the more important pieces in the backfield and ranks among the national leaders in rushing yards and carries.
Sheppards presence is even more valuable now because the recent version of Dukes offense has needed him, even if his latest outings have been somewhat limited. With Boston College up next and a tougher stretch beyond that against NC State and Miami, Duke would love to get him rolling again before the schedule stiffens further. [Read more 🡒]
Duke Loss Stings But Mia Minestrella Is Closing In On History
The early hole was too much for Duke to overcome in a 2-1 loss to 22nd-ranked Florida State, but Mia Minestrella still managed to give the Blue Devils a spark with her latest milestone. Florida State built a 2-0 lead before Minestrella answered in the 31st minute, trimming the margin and adding another chapter to a senior season that has kept her in the programs record conversation.
Minestrellas goal was her 46th of her career, a total that keeps her closing in on history even as Duke settles back into conference play at 9-2-4 overall and 4-2-3 in the ACC. Florida State left with a road win and improved to 8-2-3 overall and 4-1-2 in league action, but for Duke, the larger individual storyline remains Minestrellas pursuit of another landmark before the season runs out. [Read more 🡒]
Manny Diaz Just Put Dukes Roster Uncertainty In The Spotlight
Manny Diaz used a recent radio appearance to shine a light on a problem that has become impossible for college football programs to ignore: the uncertainty around the transfer portal and the rules that govern it. For Duke, the issue is not just philosophical. It is a practical headache that affects roster building, player movement and the planning that has to happen well beyond the current season.
Diaz pointed to the confusion created by recent player transfers and the absence of clear direction for the 2027 recruiting cycle, all while the sport waits on unresolved NCAA rule disputes. The lingering tampering case involving Clemson and Ole Miss is part of that larger cloud, and for the Blue Devils, the bigger concern is simple enough: without structural clarity, it is hard to know what the next roster looks like, or even how to properly prepare for it. [Read more 🡒]