Duke’s biggest problem heading into 2026 sits right under center, and the numbers make that hard to ignore.
Walker Eget gives Manny Diaz a veteran option, but he also represents a clear step down from Darian Mensah. Even if Eget turns in the best season of his career after arriving from San Jose State, the Blue Devils would still be looking at less than what Mensah likely would have delivered in Durham. That gap matters because Mensah’s play last season helped mask a few issues elsewhere on the roster, especially on defense.
Diaz has built his reputation on that side of the ball, but Duke still finished No. 86 in defensive SP+ last season. The Blue Devils were able to survive it anyway, winning nine games and claiming their first outright ACC Championship since 1962, largely because the offense was strong enough to carry the load. Duke’s offense ranked 19th in SP+.
The challenge now is whether the rest of the roster can do enough to keep the quarterback from having to do too much. The running game should still have juice with rising sophomore Nate Sheppard, and the offensive line is expected to be a strength. Even so, if Eget is merely solid instead of special, Duke may not have much margin for error.
That concern showed up clearly in Sports Illustrated’s recent ranking of all 68 Power Four quarterbacks for 2026. Mensah landed fifth. Eget came in at 59th.
This was supposed to be a much different conversation. Mensah originally signed a two-year deal through the Transfer Portal, and there was little reason to think he wouldn’t be back in Durham for a second season. Instead, he entered the portal at the 11th hour and headed to Miami, leaving Duke scrambling late.
Diaz did what he could in response, bringing in Eget as a seasoned quarterback with plenty of starting experience. But the reality never changed: that move was a downgrade.
Eget is the projected starter, though the job is not locked up. Sophomore Dan Mahan is still in the mix, and the coaching staff is high on him. The two will compete this fall, but the expectation is that Eget’s experience will give him the edge.
No matter who wins the job, Duke will need better play across the board to support the quarterback. Neither Eget nor Mahan is likely to raise the ceiling the way Mensah did. That leaves Diaz with the same assignment he’s facing everywhere else on the roster: find a way to lift the whole team, or risk watching Duke slide backward in 2026.
In Other News...
Dukes New QB Just Drew The Kind Of Review Fans Feared
Dukes quarterback picture for 2026 got more complicated after Darian Mensah left for Miami, and the Blue Devils turned to San Jose State transfer Walker Eget as the next man up. The move at least gives the staff an experienced option, but the early outside read on the fit is hardly a glowing one, with Sports Illustrated slotting Eget at No. 59 among Power Four starting quarterbacks.
There are reasons to think Eget can help, and reasons to think the ACC will test him quickly. He has shown flashes of productivity, but the same profile that makes him intriguing also comes with real volatility, which is why the pressure around this job is already heavy. Replacing the leagues best quarterback from 2025 is no small assignment, and Duke may spend the next several months finding out whether Eget can steady the position or keep the uncertainty going. [Read more 🡒]
Duke Mourns The Loss Of A Blue Devil Who Shaped Generations
Duke is remembering a figure whose influence stretched well beyond the football field, where he lettered in the 1960 and 1961 seasons, and into the universitys broader life through years of service and support. Wilson also served on the Duke University Board of Trustees from 1993 to 2005, building a legacy that connected athletics, leadership and philanthropy in a way few Blue Devils ever do.
His impact was visible around campus long after his playing days ended, with his name tied to places that carry meaning for Duke athletics and its supporters. Wilson is survived by his family, and his passing at 86 leaves behind a reminder of how much one alumnus can shape generations through commitment to the university he represented. [Read more 🡒]
Dukes Defense Could Decide Whether This Team Is Built For March
Dukes path back to the top of the sport may once again start on the defensive end, where Jon Scheyers group already showed it could travel, grind and win ugly stretches last season. CBS Sports analyst Isaac Trotter sees that side of the floor as a real strength again, and the ingredients are there for it to stay that way with Patrick Ngongba, Caleb Foster and Dame Sarr back in the mix.
The Blue Devils also added help through the portal with Belmont transfer Drew Scharnowski and John Blackwell, giving the roster a little more depth around a core that already knows how to defend at a high level. Dame Sarr, in particular, is drawing attention as one of the better wing defenders in the country, which is the kind of edge that can matter once the calendar flips to March and every possession starts to feel like a test. [Read more 🡒]