Duke’s 4-0 start has a lot of moving parts, but the clearest engine in the whole operation is Nate Sheppard.
The Blue Devils head into the bye week unbeaten, ranked in the latest coaches’ poll, and sitting at 1-0 in Atlantic Coast Conference play after handling every non-conference test on the schedule. The real grind starts next week in Atlanta, where Duke opens the heavier ACC stretch against Georgia Tech.
Before that, though, Sheppard’s season deserves its own spotlight. The running back has piled up 644 rushing yards, the most in college football, and he’s added six touchdowns while carrying Duke’s offense. He’s been in the same conversation as Florida’s Jadan Baugh for the title of best back in the country, and the numbers back up the noise.
Manny Diaz didn’t hold back when asked about Sheppard on the ACC Network last week. He said the "level he's playing at right now is as good as any running back that I've ever seen."
That’s about as strong a compliment as a head coach can give, and Diaz has had a front-row seat to every snap this fall. Sheppard has kept stacking productive week after productive week, and there’s no sign the production is about to dry up.
The national recognition is following. On3 has Sheppard up to No. 8 in its Heisman rankings, placing him behind Jeremiah Smith, Kamario Taylor, Trinidad Chambliss, Darian Mensah, Baugh, Malachi Toney and Keelon Russell.
That attention brings a little more pressure, but Sheppard has already shown he can handle the workload and the spotlight. He’s been steady all season, and that’s exactly why Duke has been able to keep rolling.
The race with Baugh is worth watching too. Both backs have powered undefeated teams, both have been central to their offenses, and both are putting together seasons that stand out at the top of college football. For Duke, the bigger question now is how far Sheppard can push this team as it chases a return to the ACC title game and a chance to repeat as champion.
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Former Duke Star Suddenly Faces Troubling Start To Year Two
Kon Knueppels second year with the Charlotte Hornets has gotten off to an unwelcome start, with the former Duke standout set to miss the teams preseason after suffering a hamstring injury. Charlotte is also without Grant Williams for the exhibition slate because of a separate hamstring issue, a reminder that even before the games count, the Hornets are already trying to manage their depth and keep key pieces on track.
Knueppel arrived in the league as the No. 4 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and followed that up with a strong rookie season, which is why this early setback draws attention beyond Charlotte. The bigger concern now is simply getting him back to full speed without any lingering issues, and the Hornets are planning a re-evaluation during the first week of the regular season as they wait for a clearer picture. [Read more 🡒]
Duke Fans Have Every Right To Question This Top 25 Snub
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The frustration only grows when teams with shakier recent rsums keep finding a spot in the poll, which has only fueled the broader debate about how much conference reputation matters. Missouri is still sitting at No. 25 even after a loss to Mississippi State, and that kind of contrast is exactly why Duke supporters are wondering what more their team was supposed to do. Add in the roster turnover and transfer movement that have shaped how this season has been viewed, and the snub starts to look less like an oversight and more like a trend. [Read more 🡒]
Dukes Biggest Early Problem May Finally Be Improving
Dukes 62-7 romp over William & Mary did more than keep the Blue Devils unbeaten at 4-0 for the second time under Manny Diaz. It also offered a cleaner look at one of the earliest trouble spots of the season, with the team showing some real progress in an area that had been dragging down its first three weeks.
Diaz pointed to the improvement in his postgame press conference, even while making clear the issue is hardly solved. Penalties still loom as a concern once conference play arrives, and the costly ones in particular remain the kind of mistake that can change a game fast if Duke doesnt keep tightening things up. [Read more 🡒]