The Heisman race still has plenty of runway left, but Nate Sheppard made a loud statement Saturday night.
With 35 days left until the Heisman Trophy ceremony, Duke’s star running back turned in another eye-catching performance in a 41-3 rout of NC State. The Blue Devils piled up 461 yards and shut down the Wolfpack offense, but Sheppard was the headliner. He finished with 18 carries for 217 yards and three touchdowns, including a 69-yard burst in the opening minute.
That kind of production has become familiar. It was the fifth time this season Sheppard topped 100 rushing yards, and he came just shy of his career best of 227 yards from Week 1 against Tulane. He has also been a factor as a receiver, adding 306 receiving yards and four touchdowns.
The latest outburst pushed Sheppard past 1,000 rushing yards on the season, and he still leads the ACC in rushing. After earning second-team All-ACC honors last year, he now has a real shot at bringing home something much bigger.
Duke’s team success could matter just as much in that conversation. The Blue Devils may not be ranked, but they are 7-2 and still in position to reach the conference championship game.
A difficult stretch is coming, though, with road games at No. 1 Miami and No.
16 Wake Forest ahead.
If Sheppard keeps producing against stronger competition, the Heisman buzz will only grow. And if Duke keeps climbing, the Blue Devils could still be part of the playoff picture when December arrives.
In Other News...
NC State Is Taking A Huge Gamble On A Program Legend
NC State is leaning into nostalgia and risk at the same time, with Philip Rivers reportedly finalizing a deal to become the programs next head coach. The former Wolfpack quarterback and current high school coach would step into his first college coaching job after Dave Doeren was fired following the 2023 season, giving the school a headline move that ties its present to one of its most recognizable alumni.
Rivers arrival would also bring another layer of intrigue because his son, Gunner Rivers, is expected to join the Wolfpack as well. For NC State, the appeal is obvious: a program legend with deep ties to Raleigh, a built-in recruiting storyline and a fresh start after a coaching change. The question now is how that leap from high school sidelines to the college game will play out once the deal is complete. [Read more 🡒]
NC State Is Betting Big On Philip Rivers For One Reason
NC State appears ready to make one of the boldest coaching moves in the country, turning to Philip Rivers after firing Dave Doeren. The former Wolfpack quarterback and longtime NFL passer has been coaching high school football since 2021, and his name carries instant recognition in Raleigh because of what he meant to the program as a player and what he accomplished over a pro career that briefly included a return to the NFL last year.
The appeal goes beyond nostalgia, though. Rivers would arrive with no college coaching background, which makes the hire a major leap of faith, but NC State is clearly betting that his ties to the school can help steady the program and energize the next phase. One especially intriguing part of the picture is already in place for next season, giving the Wolfpack a family connection that only adds to the intrigue around this move. [Read more 🡒]
Philip Rivers Buzz Gives NC State Fans Hope And Plenty To Debate
The idea of Philip Rivers returning to Raleigh has given NC State fans something to talk about beyond the frustration of a difficult 2026 season. A former Wolfpack quarterback who went on to a long NFL career, Rivers has stayed close to football through high school coaching and even brief recent NFL comebacks, which only adds to the intrigue around a possible homecoming.
There is also a family angle that makes the speculation feel even more layered, with his son Gunner set to arrive at NC State as a freshman in 2027. For a fan base looking for a spark, the buzz around Rivers brings both hope and a fresh round of debate about what such a move would mean for the program's direction and identity. [Read more 🡒]