Duke has already checked off two boxes to open the 2026 season, and now the Blue Devils get their first ACC test with Stanford coming to town this weekend.
That matchup brings Duke into Week 3 with a chance to reach 3-0 for the second time in three years, and it also gives Walker Eget another shot at a defense he has already torched twice.
Eget’s rise was one of the biggest stories out of Duke’s 31-27 win at Illinois last week. After a rough debut in Week 1 against Tulane, when Nate Sheppard had to carry the offense and Duke leaned on its defense to grind out a 17-3 win, the passing game finally showed up. Eget was sharp in Champaign, completing 15 of 21 passes for 206 yards and three touchdowns.
That kind of balance changes everything for Manny Diaz’s team. Duke’s defense looks better than it did a year ago, and Sheppard remains one of the nation’s best running backs. If Eget keeps giving the Blue Devils efficient production through the air, this team starts to look dangerous.
Stanford, meanwhile, is a familiar opponent for Eget - and not in a good way for the Cardinal. During his time at San Jose State, he faced Stanford twice and put up big numbers both times, even as the teams split the two games.
In 2024, Eget went 33-of-49 for 385 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. In 2025, he was even better: 36-of-58 for 473 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. Add it up, and that’s 831 passing yards and seven touchdowns against just one pick in those two meetings.
Stanford’s secondary has not done much to inspire confidence early this season, either. The Cardinal allowed 272 passing yards against Hawaii in the opener, then were picked apart for more than 400 yards by Darian Mensah and Miami in their second game.
The Cardinal had a bye in Week 2, so they’ll come in with extra time to prepare. But this is still a defense Eget knows well, and one Duke should expect to attack.
Even with back-to-back wins over quality opponents, Duke still doesn’t seem to be getting much credit. Beating a Stanford team projected to finish near the bottom of the ACC won’t change that much. What it would do is give more evidence that this group has cleaned up the inconsistencies that hurt it a season ago.
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Since taking over in 2022, Scheyer has already guided Duke to multiple ACC Tournament championships and NCAA Elite Eight appearances, giving the program the kind of stability and high-level results that usually bring outside attention. Even with the pro chatter hanging around, his message was aimed at reassuring a fan base that has seen the transition from Mike Krzyzewski handled with steady success and wants to know the next chapter is still being written at Duke. [Read more 🡒]