Duke Dominates Stanford 35-7 in ACC Opener
Duke Dominates Stanford 35-7 in ACC Opener
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Key Points
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Duke recovered an onside kick to open the game and quickly reached Stanford’s 2-yard line, but quarterback Walker Eget threw an interception on fourth down to safety Darrius Davis—the first turnover of Eget’s season.
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Despite the early interception, Duke immediately responded with a 14-0 lead and never trailed, expanding the margin to 21-7 in the third quarter before adding to it in the second half.
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The victory marked only the second time in the last three seasons that Manny Diaz’s Duke team has opened a year 3-0.
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Stanford coach Tavita Pritchard had identified Duke’s defensive versatility as a major challenge, noting that the Blue Devils mix man and zone coverage, alternate between single- and two-high looks, and use varied blitz packages.
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Duke’s 2026 success has been built around winning at the line of scrimmage: before the Stanford game, the defensive front had recorded three sacks and seven tackles for loss against Tulane, while limiting the Green Wave to 258 total yards and a 3-for-14 third-down rate.
Duke dominated Stanford 35-7 in its ACC opener, improving to 3-0 and winning its fifth consecutive conference game to start a season USA Today. Running back Nate Sheppard powered the Blue Devils with 154 rushing yards and three total touchdowns, while Duke's defense held Stanford to just 251 yards and forced repeated disruptions on quarterback Davis Warren Yahoo Sports.
Sheppard and the Rushing Attack Take Over
Nate Sheppard rushed for 154 yards on 23 carries while scoring two rushing touchdowns and adding a third through the air Yahoo Sports. Tight end Jeremiah Hasley caught five passes for 88 yards, helping Duke rack up 268 rushing yards for the game AOL. The offensive line dominated at the line of scrimmage, creating running lanes that Stanford's defense could not contain throughout the afternoon.
Early Interception Doesn't Slow Duke's Momentum
Duke recovered an onside kick to open the game and drove to Stanford's 2-yard line, but quarterback Walker Eget threw an interception to safety Darrius Davis on fourth down USA Today. It marked Eget's only turnover of the season to that point. Despite the setback, Duke responded immediately with a 14-0 lead and never trailed, expanding the margin to 21-7 by the third quarter.
Defense Keeps Stanford Under 300 Total Yards
Duke's defense limited Stanford to 251 total yards and disrupted quarterback Davis Warren throughout the game USA Today. Coach Tavita Pritchard acknowledged before the game that Duke's defensive versatility posed a major challenge, noting the Blue Devils mix man and zone coverage while alternating between single- and two-high safety looks Duke Wire. The defensive front had already recorded three sacks and seven tackles for loss against Tulane earlier in the season.
Manny Diaz's Team Extends Early-Season Success
This victory marks only the second time in the last three seasons that Duke has opened a year 3-0 Duke Wire. The win also extended Stanford's road losing streak to 12 consecutive games. Receiver Kavon Simmons added a 16-yard reverse touchdown, giving Duke multiple explosive plays on offense in what was a complete domination at Wallace Wade Stadium in Durham, North Carolina.
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