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The Blue Devils step foot into 2026 coming off one of the most successful seasons in program history. Head coach Manny Diaz led the Blue Devils to their first outright ACC championship since 1962.
Last year, Diaz beat every would-be “local rival” in the ACC. This includes Bill Belichick-led UNC Tar Heels, Dabo-led Clemson Tigers, and NC State Wolfpack. They even beat a top-25 Virginia Cavaliers team.
Duke handled conference opponents well. However, the Blue Devils struggled early in the season against non-conference opponents. They had a 1-3 record with losses to teams like Illinois, Tulane, and UConn. Those losses were what ultimately hurt Duke’s chances of making the College Football Playoff.
This season, the Blue Devils open with three non-conference opponents: Tulane, Illinois, and William & Mary. It will be very keen that the Blue Devils walk out at least 2-1 at the start of this season. Now, they have a target on their backs throughout the ACC, with improvements to be made across the conference.
Unexpected Changes Via Transfer Portal
This offseason, Diaz and his staff dealt with what might have been one of the wildest offseasons after winning an ACC Championship. It started with their star quarterback, Darian Mensah. He announced he would be entering the transfer portal. That was just weeks after publicly announcing he’d be returning to Duke. Then, not only did the star quarterback enter the portal, but Duke’s top receiver, Cooper Barkate, hit the portal within days of the Mensah news.
And to make matters worse, both Mensah and Barkate wind up committing to Miami. So, rather than going into next season with the upper hand thanks to their experienced QB and wideout, the Blue Devils will have to start over with replacements at both positions.
This includes the addition of notable transfer and likely WR1 “6’2”, 215-pound Jared Richardson via Penn. Richardson put up huge numbers, leading the Ivy League in both yards and touchdowns. He’s coming off a year with 80 receptions, over 1,000 yards, and 12 touchdowns. Look for Richardson to fill the shoes once worn by Barkate.
At Quarterback, the Blue Devils add Walker Eget, who will probably be the most important position for this Blue Devils team, especially having to fill the shoes of Mensah and the success he had in the ACC.
Eget started two years at San Jose State, throwing for over 5,000 yards and 30 touchdowns. The question surrounding this group in 2026 will be how soon can this Duke offense get rolling to that prowess that dominated the ACC in the previous year.
The biggest question entering 2026 is how quickly Duke’s rebuilt offense can regain the explosiveness that helped the Blue Devils dominate the ACC last season.
Despite the roster turnover, expectations in Durham haven’t changed. Duke is no longer a surprise team — it’s a program expected to compete for ACC championships.
For Manny Diaz, this may be his biggest test yet. Winning the ACC grabbed attention, but sustaining that success while replacing star talent will determine whether Duke’s rise is built to last.
