Manny Diaz and his third-year coaching staff return, looking to build on one of the more improbable seasons in recent ACC history, as the 2025 Blue Devils (9-5) reached the ACC Championship Game and won the title. Despite winning the ACC title, Duke was left out of the College Football Playoff while JMU and Tulane received bids, so the true Cinderella opportunity never had a chance to play out. All eyes will be on the knee of projected starting QB Walker Eget. Nate Sheppard returns as the Blue Devils’ top running back, looking to build on his 81 yards per game and 11 touchdown runs. The Blue Devils lose their top three receivers and last year’s quarterback Darian Mensah, so it’s not a stretch to say the passing game might take a step back. Duke is excited to see Louisville transfer Nate Kurisky in action. He and Jeremiah Hasley will make a solid tight end room. The Blue Devils bring back Jordan Larsen and Matt Craycraft on the offensive line, and hope transfers Nick Del Grande and Braden Miller will protect the edges.

Defensive coordinator Jonathan Patke will need to work his magic rebuilding a defense that lost seven of its top eleven tacklers from a year ago. The Blue Devils are inexperienced along the defensive line and could have issues getting to the quarterback. Duke still has a lot of experience at linebacker, led by Luke Mergott and Nick Morris, and in the secondary, led by DaShawn Stone and Kimari Robinson.

Special teams coach Gabe Infante will need to figure out a winning formula, as last year’s top punt returner, Que’Sean Brown, and last year’s primary kick returner Sahmir Hagans are no longer with the team. The Blue Devils will work in a brand-new first-time starter with Todd Pelino gone. Kade Reynoldson returns as punter. With significant roster turnover after an improbable ACC title run, repeating that success in 2026 will be a tall order.