Duke’s first loss of the season did not slow the Manny Diaz buzz for long.
The Blue Devils entered their bye week at 4-0 after wrapping up non-conference play, but the schedule was about to tighten fast with two of their next three games on the road against Atlantic Coast Conference opponents. Duke got the first of those tests Saturday and came up short, dropping a late lead against Georgia Tech before missing a chance to tie the game on a field goal in the final seconds. The setback sent Duke to 4-1 heading into this week’s matchup with North Carolina.
Even with the loss, Diaz remains part of a larger conversation because of the job he’s doing in Durham. Duke has looked sharp this season, building on what it accomplished a year ago, and Diaz has done it with transfer-portal quarterback Walker Eget leading the way.
That strong start is why his name is getting attention beyond Duke. On3 analyst J.D. PicKell recently weighed in on the Florida State situation after the Seminoles fell to Louisville and slipped to 3-3, suggesting that Mike Norvell’s run in Tallahassee may be nearing its end and that the school could be looking for its next head coach.
PicKell floated Diaz as a possible fit for Florida State, pointing to what he has rebuilt at Duke after a disappointing ending at Miami. He also noted Diaz’s ties to the state of Florida from his time with the Hurricanes, a connection that could matter on the recruiting trail. And because Diaz comes from the defensive side, PicKell said that would offer a different direction for a program that went with an offense-minded coach in Norvell.
PicKell also made clear this was only his opinion, saying he does not believe Diaz would actually take the job. Still, he argued Florida State would at least need to reach out and show interest.
For now, Florida State remains a storyline worth watching in the college football world. And if the Seminoles do make a change, Diaz’s name figures to stay in the mix thanks to the momentum he has built at Duke.
In Other News...
Duke Still Has A Transfer Question Heading Into North Carolina
Dukes first loss of the 2026 season came in a 28-25 setback to Georgia Tech, and even in defeat there were reasons to think the offense can keep carrying its weight. The Blue Devils battled through costly penalties, but receivers Jared Richardson and Jaivon Solomon helped keep the attack moving, while linebacker Luke Mergott stood out on the other side of the ball in a game that still felt competitive deep into the finish.
Still, the bigger question for the stretch ahead is whether the transfer additions can become more than background pieces as the schedule tightens. Duke has leaned on a few familiar names early, but players like Owen Wafle and Javen Nicholas have not yet made a major imprint this season, leaving the Blue Devils with some uncertainty to sort out before North Carolina comes into view. [Read more 🡒]
Duke Showed Real Fight At Georgia Tech But One Concern Remains
Duke went on the road to Georgia Tech and came away with a close loss, but the bigger takeaway was how much fight the Blue Devils showed from start to finish. Walker Eget kept the offense moving by completing 26 of 41 passes for 259 yards and a touchdown, while Nate Sheppard was a steady presence despite playing with a taped foot and leading the team in both rushing and receiving.
There was plenty to like beyond the box score, too. Duke found encouraging signs across the offensive line, defensive line, linebackers and secondary, and the late comeback push suggested the group still has some resilience when the game tightens up. Even so, the loss left one concern lingering, because for all the effort and improvement, there are still areas that need to come together if this team wants to turn close games into wins. [Read more 🡒]
Duke May Be Building An Early Edge In A Huge Recruiting Battle
Jon Scheyer keeps giving Duke reasons to feel good about its long view on the recruiting trail, and the latest buzz only adds to it. The Blue Devils already have commitments from Australian point guard Luke Paul and five-star forward Kager Knueppel in the 2027 class, giving the staff an early base to sell as it keeps circling some of the nations most coveted young prospects.
The more interesting layer is what could happen if the calendar keeps moving in Dukes favor. The program has also picked up a crystal ball prediction for five-star forward Asa Montgomery and five-star 2028 prospect Colton Hiller, who recently took an official visit to Durham, while Scheyer has openly pointed to the growing possibility of top recruits reclassifying and reaching college sooner. If that trend keeps picking up, the Blue Devils may be positioning themselves not just to land elite talent, but to land it earlier than everyone else expects. [Read more 🡒]