⚡ CFB Dashboard

- Pick/market: 2-3 massive holds on punt return

- Pick/market: It doesn't really - 1 week of football is a crazy small sample size, so you can pick out anything that happened and argue it's either a fluke or a sign of things to...

- Pick/market: Of course we can win.

- Pick/market: I'll spend the time watching all videos available of the game to find those who booed, then would fly down to Durham for the next game to slap each one individually, if it means...

- Pick/market: New coaches, new system, lost 45 in the portal, largely the more talented players to P4 teams.

- Pick/market: Duke LB Mick Morris Jr.

- Duke's Nate Sheppard ran for 227 yards and two touchdowns against Tulane; Illinois allowed UAB 194 rushing yards and 16 missed tackles, per PFF. The preview sees a rushing opportunity but warns that Bobby Hauck's new pressure-oriented 3-3-5 can create negative plays. Bielema linked some tackling problems to limited live work during an injury-affected camp, not an assurance they will persist. - Duke QB Walker Eget went 13-of-26 for 131 yards without a touchdown or interception in the opener. Manny Diaz attributed the struggles to timing between throws and route breaks and said responsibility was not solely on the quarterback. The writer calls for play-action completions and Jeremiah Hasley involvement to deter loaded boxes; those are recommendations, not announced play-calling changes. - Duke held Tulane to 54 rushing yards and 3-of-14 on third down, with three sacks and seven tackles for loss; Bryce Davis had two sacks. Illinois presents a different passing test: Katin Houser opened 13-of-17 for 182 yards and three passing touchdowns, plus 29 rushing yards and a score. The preview highlights his quick release as a counter to Duke's pressure, not a guaranteed matchup result. - Duke had a 32-yard field goal blocked; another block from 27 was erased by offsides before Cosme Salas made a 22-yarder. The preview flags protection, timing and execution across the unit. Illinois received a 65-yard Mac Resetich punt return that set up a touchdown, while Ethan Moczulski made all six extra points and recorded six kickoff touchbacks in its opener.

- Duke quarterback Walker Eget completed only 3 of 7 throws beyond 10 yards and 10 of 19 for 94 yards from clean pockets in the 2026 opener against Tulane. Tight end Jeremiah Hasley drew a team-high seven targets but caught two for 36 yards, while Jonah Burton led the receivers with five targets; the passing limitations were not solely a product of pressure. - Duke generated 26 pressures in its 2026 opener against Tulane despite replacing all four starting defensive linemen from 2025. Tyshon Reed led with six pressures, Bryce Davis produced three tackles for loss and two sacks, and Tulane averaged 9.5 yards to go on third down while converting 3 of 14; that gives Illinois a specific reason to avoid long-yardage situations against Manny Diaz's aggressive front.

- Duke averaged only 4.7 yards per pass attempt against Tulane, with a 6.4-yard average depth of target illustrating the limited passing threat despite the 17-3 win. - Sheppard carried 35 times for a career-high 227 yards against Tulane, including a career-best 165 yards after contact, making tackle-breaking a major part of Duke's rushing production. - Duke recorded 153 combined tight-end snaps over 79 offensive plays, with the report identifying frequent two- and three-tight-end personnel as a way to support the offense while its quarterback and perimeter play develop. - The initial PFF review identified Duke's experienced interior of Craycraft, Larsen and Smith as the offensive line's strength, while its new tackles graded less favorably and still needed adjustment despite a productive team rushing performance.

- Injury: To be honest, I don't there is a big enough sample size to call Eget trash; but I will say that he didn't look good to me.

- Sophomore running back Nate Sheppard tallied three total touchdowns, including two receiving scores, to help power the Blue Devils (2-0) to their 11th one-score victory under head coach Manny Diaz . - Quarterback Walker Eget went 15-for-21 through the air, recording 206 passing yards and three touchdown strikes.

- QB/LB: This is the NFL's wet dream, to lift the salary cap and start pilfering rosters.

- QB: I may just be hyper aware of any mentions, but it does feel like MD subtlely relishes pointing out issues in last year's QB play during media availability.

- Pick/market: TBH based on the enemy preview, it seems Duke aligns well against them.

- QB: Diaz is likely putting a lot of emphasis on game management and ball security at the QB position at this point.

- QB: I cannot believe that he is anywhere close physically to being the same guy.

- QB: Jennings is a helluva competitor, but he’s just not turned into that Heisman list QB they thought he could be.

- QB/RB: FSU’s QB looks kinda like how I imagine Mahan running our offense this year might look.

- QB: This is a sports board, where opinion, perspective, rumor, generally sports related statistics, and occasional citations meet.

- QB: How would you feel if you were personally insulted for simply sharing your opinion.

- QB/LB: Awesome watching Nate but bittersweet knowing whats to come once the season is over.

- Pick/market: After a 4-8 season, some big SEC team will fund his transfer, and we’ll have nothing but ourselves to blame for choosing such an awful QB to run this team

- QB: We lost 17 players in the portal.

- QB: WE’s slow processing was outdone by his inaccuracy when it mattered.

- QB: Just do not use Mahan as "a la Brandon Connette" style the whole year where he runs every time

- QB: At this point, I can't think of another person I hate more Mensah, especially with how he left Duke for Miami and the appearance of being a mercenary and leaving for the money.

- QB/LB: I feel with a run heavy QB we still haven’t learned much - next week will be what tells us if we have P4 pass coverage.

- QB: if it was a QB battle like it was reported.

- Pick/market: Our D is playing out.

- QB/KICKER: Don't like to think you can't trust your QB or your kicker in scoring position.....

- Pick/market: Yea it’s gonna be a long year if this is what we get from a QB.

- QB: If duke had a qb that could run that would benefit Sheppard even more.

- QB/RB: Yes let’s take the Qb with legs out so the D can hone in on the RB.

- QB: I also think part of the decision making here is how much Diaz was telling the truth for it being a true close QB battle.

- Pick/market: Frustrating game in the moment, but starting off the season with a win is great and now that it’s over there were actually a surprising amount of positives.

- Pick/market: I’m a bit of a pessimist so my reaction was imagine this team with a good QB.

- QB: Duke misses three tackles, but they rake the ball out as Tulane goes to their passing QB, Kaden Semonza.

- Intel: The post on Peebles also reminded me of how many starters we lost in the Portal the year that Manny came in.

- DB: More transfer info.

- Duke coordinator Jonathan Patke praised the defense's energy and physicality in the 17-3 Tulane win, but the unit still allowed three gains of at least 20 yards and missed 12 tackles, per PFF. The opener set a better effort standard; tackling and explosive-play prevention remain corrections, not solved weaknesses. - Duke used 25 defenders across 60 snaps against Tulane, with nobody playing every snap. Luke Mergott and cornerbacks Dylan Flowers and Kyon Loud were the only players to reach 50 snaps. Patke says playing time will change with performance rather than remain fixed at opener levels. - Duke defensive tackle Owen Wafle earned a larger role after producing two pressures and a run stop in just five snaps, according to Patke. Wafle had been banged up during camp but was ready for the opener; no new injury limitation or exact future snap allocation was announced. - Patke said Duke linebacker Elliott Schaper should have received defensive snaps against Tulane and hopes to involve him going forward. Schaper dressed but did not play on defense; this signals a possible rotation addition, not a confirmed starting change. - Duke's STAR listing reflects personnel flexibility: Will Felder Jr. is a hybrid linebacker/safety, while Mergott mostly played middle linebacker last year. Nick Morris Jr., Kendall Johnson and Mergott started together against Tulane. Manny Diaz says the scheme can accommodate the best matchup personnel and wants the deep linebacker group, including Bradley Gompers, involved.

- Duke named center Matt Craycraft, tight end Jeremiah Hasley, cornerback Kyon Loud, linebacker Nick Morris Jr., defensive end Tyshon Reed Jr., and running back Nate Sheppard as captains for the Tulane opener. - Manny Diaz said Duke will use a mix of permanent and weekly captains this season to match the roster's leadership structure and empower younger players. - Duke's opener captain list included younger or less-established players such as third-year defensive end Tyshon Reed Jr., third-year Montana transfer Kyon Loud, and sophomore running back Nate Sheppard.

- Duke's offense emphasized different personnel and schematic elements against Tulane than it had the previous season, according to opposing coordinator Bobby Hauck, although he said the underlying offense retained many of the same concepts and had not established exactly what Illinois should expect next.

- OL/DL: What also jumped out at me when looking at the tackling stratistics for both teams is that Duke's top four tacklers were LBs and DL, while two of the top four tacklers for Tulane...

- Duke opened with 250 rushing yards and no sacks allowed despite replacing three offensive-line starters, with Nate Sheppard supplying 227 yards and two touchdowns on 35 carries in the 17-3 Tulane win; center Matt Craycraft emphasized that one successful game does not establish consistency. - Duke's two 75-yard touchdown drives took 17 plays and 9:53, then 12 plays and 6:53, giving early evidence of the offseason plan to run more frequently and sustain possession while retaining the option to change tempo. - Craycraft credited Bradley Smith's prior playing experience and both tackles' January arrivals with improving Duke's line continuity, while the unit is practicing in amplified noise and stressing Walker Eget's cadence and play-call communication before the Illinois road game. - The Duke-Illinois preview identifies a potential rushing opportunity after Illinois allowed UAB 194 rushing yards and 10 conversions on 19 third downs, with the cited Illini Inquirer film review reporting 16 missed tackles charged by PFF in that opener. - The same preview warns that Illinois can still disrupt Duke through front movement and pressure, highlighting Will Holmes' edge and interior work in the opener and last year's five forced turnovers against Duke; Craycraft named ball security, avoiding negative plays and protecting the passer as priorities for this meeting.

- Offense: Imagine having Darien Mensah, Nate Sheppard and Cooper Barkate on the same team.

- RB: Duke tailback Nate Sheppard has 139 rushing yards and a touchdown….at halftime vs.

- Pick/market: Defense and O-line look great.

- Defense: Ride the Nate train.

- Intel: I don’t really care what the rotation is, Nate Sheppard needs the ball at least twice on that drive.

- Intel: NO 1 PICKED DUKE PRESEASON TO WIN THIS GAME - DUKE FOOTBALL IS DIFFERENT, GET USED TO IT AMERICA

- Intel: Solid game from Eget, and Nate has to be incredibly strong the way he hung onto the football with guy’s clawing at him.

- KICKER: do not put two #4's in the game on special teams, pleasssse

- Intel: ‘Pour into each other’: How Duke football builds trust in the weight room Nothing is by accident in Duke football’s weight room.

- KICKER: Duke punter Kade Reynoldson named as one of the nations top punters this week per Ray Guy award.

- Practice: A knee looking bullet proof in the PT room and practice reps is completely different than game speed.