Manny Diaz’s name isn’t going away in the Florida State search, and Thursday gave that speculation another jolt.
Wake Forest agreed to a contract extension with second-year head coach Jake Dickert, according to multiple reports, effectively taking him out of the running for the Seminoles’ opening. Dickert had been tied to the job this month, but that path now looks closed.
That leaves Diaz even more squarely in the conversation. The Duke head coach has been viewed as a candidate since before Florida State made the decision to move on from Norvell. He’s a Florida State alumnus, and his coaching roots trace back to Bobby Bowden’s staff, where he got his start.
The connection only got stronger on Monday, when FSU hired Jeff Purinton as its athletic director. Purinton and Diaz worked together under Bowden, giving the school’s new decision-maker a direct link to the Duke coach.
Diaz has built a 46-26 record as a head coach at Miami and Duke, and his path has included the kind of hard lessons that shape a resume. He had his well-documented problems at Miami, but has learned from his lessons with the Hurricanes. He led the Blue Devils to the ACC championship in 2025.
Florida State’s buyout situation also matters here. Norvell’s buyout sits at $50 million, which means the program will be working with limited resources early in the next coaching cycle. That could make Diaz especially appealing, since he’s already shown he can get more out of less at Duke.
This season has been a perfect example. Duke lost Darian Mensah and Cooper Barkate late in the transfer portal cycle, then turned to San Jose State transfer Walker Eget at quarterback. Even with questions about whether the roster could be bowl-worthy, the Blue Devils have turned into one of college football’s bigger surprises.
Diaz has leaned on his defense and running back Nate Sheppard to get Duke to 7-2 heading into the final stretch. The Blue Devils still have Miami, Clemson, and Wake Forest left on the schedule.
The regular-season finale comes against Wake Forest on Nov. 28, which now carries even more intrigue with Dickert off the board. That matchup could have ACC championship ramifications for one or both teams.
After that, there should be a clearer picture of what Diaz’s next move looks like, even though he signed a contract extension just months ago.
In Other News...
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For Duke, the regional is about more than just one good day on the course. The article lays out the key athletes on both squads and the path each team must navigate to keep its season alive, with qualification hinging on how they stack up against a deep Southeast field. By the end of Friday, the Blue Devils should know whether both programs have done enough to extend their postseason run. [Read more 🡒]
Daniel Jones Sounds Frustrated As His NFL Comeback Takes Another Turn
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Even so, Jones is not sounding like a quarterback ready to wave off the season before it starts. He still believes the roster can compete, which matters with his two-year extension already in place and his long-term future in Indianapolis still unsettled beyond this year. For now, though, the comeback story is being shaped by a changing supporting cast as much as by Jones own rehab. [Read more 🡒]
Duke Recruiting Just Got More Complicated Than Fans Expected
Dukes early work on the recruiting trail is already starting to take shape for the 2027 class, with three commitments in hand and a familiar mix of high-end talent and long-term upside. The Blue Devils have landed five-star forwards Kager Knueppel and Asa Montgomery, along with Australian point guard Luke Paul, giving the staff a strong foundation before the cycle has even fully opened up.
But the next wave is where things get interesting, because Duke has been active with several top 2028 prospects as well, including five-star point guard Josiah Rose, who has drawn attention from multiple programs and already taken unofficial visits to SMU. The Blue Devils have also offered Colton Hiller, Yann Kamagate, Mason Collins and Brady Pettigrew, and with some of those names potentially moving up to 2027, the board could shift quickly in ways that make this recruiting picture a lot less settled than it first appeared. [Read more 🡒]