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Duke football is on a roll. The Blue Devils improved to 7-2 overall and 4-2 in ACC play after a 41-3 dismantling of NC State (4-5, 2-4 ACC) in Raleigh on Saturday.
It was a performance that mirrored the previous week's domination of Boston College at Wallace Wade Stadium: utter control from start to finish. This has been a remarkable bounce-back for Manny Diaz's squad, which just weeks ago had lost back-to-back games to Georgia Tech and North Carolina and seemed to have lost all momentum.
Now, Duke heads to Coral Gables to face No. 1 Miami riding a three-game win streak, having outscored its last two opponents by a combined 88-5. The Blue Devils have a legitimate chance to be ranked in the AP Top 25 after another lopsided victory, and their hopes of climbing to the top of the ACC have been renewed.
Nate Sheppard's Heisman Case Strengthens
It's becoming repetitive to discuss how incredible Duke star running back Nate Sheppard is, but Saturday was another showcase. The sophomore needed less than a minute to score on a 69-yard touchdown run and had already amassed 168 rushing yards and two touchdowns by halftime. The Louisiana native finished with 217 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 18 carries, averaging a staggering 12.1 yards per attempt.
Offensively, Duke looks like the vintage form it showed early in the season. Sheppard leads the way, while Walker Eget and the receiving corps do their part to keep the unit in rhythm. Sheppard has eight rushing touchdowns over the last two games and re-entered the Heisman conversation last weekend with a five-touchdown performance against Boston College. His case only grows stronger as Duke keeps winning in blowout fashion.
Defense Shines Again
Duke hasn't allowed a single point in six of its last eight quarters. The Blue Devils have taken a tremendous step forward on defense in 2026, and they're only getting better as the season progresses. This marks the second straight week Duke has not allowed a touchdown. Winning on the road in conference play is difficult, but Duke walked into Carter-Finley Stadium and completely took over.
NC State managed just 217 yards of offense, 32 rushing yards on 25 carries (1.3 yards per attempt), 12 first downs, and converted only 3-of-14 third downs. Duke recorded two sacks and five tackles for loss and, despite not forcing a turnover, completely disrupted the Wolfpack's rhythm while the offense continued to build the lead.
Balanced Passing Attack
Eget threw the ball frequently in the first half relative to his usual workload, but the San Jose State transfer delivered another consistent outing. He completed 22 of 31 passes for 208 yards and a touchdown—nothing overly flashy, but exactly what Duke needs to complement its superstar running back. Ten different receivers caught a pass, with redshirt freshman Jaivon Solomon leading the way with five catches for 71 yards and a score. Solomon, who was discussed extensively in the preseason, appears to be carving out a consistent role in the offense.
Looking Ahead
Duke is riding a wave of momentum into the final stretch of the regular season, but its last three games represent the toughest stretch of the year. The Blue Devils face No. 1 Miami in Coral Gables, then Clemson at home, and No. 16 Wake Forest on the road. Diaz and company are climbing back toward the top of the conference standings, but with two league losses, they likely need to win out to have any shot at repeating as ACC champions. Given how they're playing right now, who's to say the Blue Devils can't go into South Beach and shock the college football world?