Tag: Manny Diaz

Duke football teases black end zone design for 2024’s final game at Wallace Wade Stadium

The Duke football team debuted its final end zone design of the 2024 regular season on Friday, a different look from the rest of the year.

The Duke Blue Devils play in front of the Wallace Wade Stadium crowd for the final time this season on Saturday night, and the team debuted a new field design for the occasion.

According to a photo shared by the team on Friday afternoon, the field crew painted the end zones black instead of the usual blue for this weekend’s game against Virginia Tech.

The Blue Devils usually don their traditional blue and white, but they’ve incorporated black into several uniform combinations already this season. Duke wore an all-black outfit against the North Carolina Tar Heels in Week 5, black jerseys against Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in Week 6, and black helmets against the Florida State Seminoles and NC State Wolfpack.

Duke has won four of its first five games in Durham this season, and since the start of 2022, the Blue Devils are 15-3 at Wallace Wade Stadium. A win over the Hokies could clinch their third consecutive eight-win season.

Staff predictions for Week 13 matchup between Duke and Virginia Tech

Duke football is gearing up to take on Virginia Tech this Saturday, check out our Duke Wire staff predictions for the game.

The Duke Blue Devils have already exceeded expectations on the football field in 2024, but the final two weeks decide whether head coach Manny Diaz’s first season in Durham is good or great.

Duke already qualified for the postseason with seven wins in its first seven games, including the first season sweep of the North Carolina Tar Heels and NC State Wolfpack since 2013, but each successive tally in the win column only improves the Blue Devils’ national standing. A Week 14 win over Wake Forest would give Diaz bragging rights over the entire state, but the Virginia Tech Hokies must be taken care of first.

The Hokies’ 5-5 record makes them look like unformidable foes, but several ranked teams found out that fallacy the hard way already. While Virginia Tech didn’t win either game, it led Miami by 10 points in the fourth quarter and took a 7-0 advantage into halftime against the Clemson Tigers.

Check out whether our staff thinks the Blue Devils can slow down the Hokies and their elite rushing attack in this year’s final game at Wallace Wade Stadium.

Ryan Haley, Duke Wire site editor

Before anything else, the status of Virginia Tech quarterback Kyron Drones and running back Bhayshul Tuten determines this entire game. Both players, who combine for nearly 70% of the team’s rushing yards, have dealt with injuries for most of the last month, but a bye week should have them closer to full speed.

Still, head coach Brent Pry labeled them as questionable earlier in the week, and even if they just play at less than 100%, that drastically changes Virginia Tech’s offensive outlook.

While a run-first program plays away from Duke’s defensive strengths, I think the intelligence and discipline of Jonathan Patke’s defense get brushed away more than they should. There are veterans everywhere, including the front seven, and they’ll be able to navigate some complicated run designs.

Besides, if quarterback Maalik Murphy keeps throwing multiple touchdowns per game on the other side, Duke is genuinely a top-five team in the conference. The redshirt sophomore hasn’t just produced more over the last three games, he’s looked more comfortable and made cleaner decisions, and there’s no reason to doubt that trend.

Duke 28, Virginia Tech 23

Bryant Crews, Staff Writer

For one last time in 2024, Duke will take the field at Wallace Wade. They do so, hosting an underachieving Virginia Tech team that some thought could compete for the ACC title and even the College Football Playoff. Well, to put it plainly, that just won’t be happening despite them returning 22 starters. Duke, on the other hand, has an incredibly reasonable shot at a nine-win season at 7-3.

Virginia Tech has a diverse and steady run game that Duke’s defense will have to key in on, but the Hokies passing game is far from electric. Making Drones a dropback passer and eliminating the RPO game could tilt things heavily in Duke’s favor. Tuten, a transfer from North Carolina A&T, is a highlight waiting to happen for the Hokies, and he’s closing in on 1,000 yards to pair with 12 touchdowns.

A fast start from Duke could completely mess up the likely game script for Virginia Tech offensive coordinator Tyler Bowen and allow Duke to pin its ears back and rush the QB, which favors the Blue Devils.

I think we see Duke off a bye week with a bit of extra pep in its step, and Duke pulls early 4th quarter for a two-score win. I see Sahmir Hagans scoring this week, too.

Duke 29, Virginia Tech 20

Josiah Caswell, Staff Writer

While I think Duke will win, Virginia Tech does pose a very interesting matchup for the Blue Devils. All year long, Duke’s specialty has been its pass defense led by cornerback Chandler Rivers.

Additionally, the Blue Devils’ pass rush and defensive line recorded 28.0 sacks and led the nation in tackles for loss for much of the season.

Despite that, the Blue Devils’ rushing defense isn’t stellar, or rather, it is more average at best. Out of all 134 FBS teams, the Duke rushing defense ranks just 71st with 149.3 rush yards allowed per game, including 3.83 yards per carry and 10 touchdowns.

For Virginia Tech, Tuten and Drones will make sure to test that. If Duke can continue forcing tackles for loss, it should win this no doubt. However, if Virginia Tech can have its way on the ground, the Hokies could create a very close game.

Duke 21, Virginia Tech 14

Where are the Duke Blue Devils in the latest USA TODAY Sports bowl projections?

Check out where the Duke Blue Devils fit on the college football bowl schedule in the latest USA TODAY Sports projections.

With seven wins in their first 10 games, the Duke Blue Devils have done more than cement their place on the bowl calendar. Head coach [autotag]Manny Diaz[/autotag] and his team look poised for a primary spot on the schedule.

According to the latest projections from USA TODAY Sports’ Erick Smith, Duke fans can book a trip to the Duke’s Mayo Bowl for a January 3rd game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers.

The Golden Gophers have rebounded well from a 2-3 start to the season. They beat the USC Trojans, UCLA Bruins, and a ranked Illinois Fighting Illini squad during a recent four-game win streak. Minnesota already reached six wins, which is helpful with a closing schedule that includes the Penn State Nittany Lions and Wisconsin Badgers.

Smith still thinks the Miami Hurricanes are in line for the ACC title, setting them up for a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff bracket. The SMU Mustangs, Miami’s likely opponent in the championship game, didn’t make the 12-team field.

Duke football sticks within the top 30 of the USA TODAY Sports re-rank

The Duke football team, idle in Week 12, stuck within the top 30 of the USA TODAY Sports re-rank.

With only two weeks left in the 2024 regular season, the Duke Blue Devils remain close to the top of the college football world.

USA TODAY Sports writer Paul Myerberg released his updated ranking of every FBS college football team after Week 12, and the Duke Blue Devils moved up two spots to 27th.

In his first season as the program’s head coach, [autotag]Manny Diaz[/autotag] won his first five games to kick-start what is currently a 7-3 campaign. With the Blue Devils’ most recent win in Raleigh, the team beat both the North Carolina Tar Heels and NC State Wolfpack in the same season for the first time in more than a decade.

If Duke can beat either Virginia Tech or Wake Forest over the next two weeks, the Blue Devils could clinch their third straight eight-win season.

Just like every other major college football ranking, the Oregon Ducks took the top overall spot. With the ACC in a chaotic three-team race for the conference title, Myerberg has Miami (10th) and SMU (11th) as the best teams in the league. The Clemson Tigers (14th) remain alive, but they’d need an upset or two to make it to Charlotte.

Duke running back Jaquez Moore expected to return in 2025, Manny Diaz says

Duke football coach Manny Diaz revealed on Monday that running back Jaquez Moore should return for the 2025 season.

The Duke football team will honor several seniors at its final home game on Saturday, a night battle against the Virginia Tech Hokies, but it sounds like one longtime Blue Devil will return to Durham next fall.

Head coach [autotag]Manny Diaz[/autotag] said on Monday that running back [autotag]Jaquez Moore[/autotag], who missed most of the season due to injury, will aim for another year of eligibility in 2025.

“He’s been a tough miss for us this year,” Diaz said. “We think he’s one of the best players on our roster, so we’re excited about the idea that we have a chance to welcome him back next year.”

Moore spent the past four seasons with the program, finishing second on the roster with 674 yards and six touchdowns in 2023. He picked up 24 yards and a touchdown in the opener against Elon, and he gained another 11 yards on three attempts against Northwestern in Week 2 before leaving the game with an injury.

He’s only taken the field once since, a single carry for no gain against the North Carolina Tar Heels in Week 5.

Moore can retain redshirt eligibility with four games played, so Diaz said he should play against Virginia Tech or Wake Forest the following week, but he won’t take the field in both games.

Duke football earns two votes in updated AP Poll after Week 12

The Associated Press revealed its updated college football rankings on Sunday, including two votes for the Duke Blue Devils.

The Duke Blue Devils received two votes in the updated AP Top 25 College Football Poll on Sunday, one more than they did last week.

Head coach [autotag]Manny Diaz[/autotag] and his players got a weekend off after defeating the NC State Wolfpack last Saturday, improving Duke’s record to 7-3 for the season and 3-3 against ACC opponents. In Diaz’s first season with the program, the Blue Devils got off to their first 5-0 start since 1994 and defeated the Wolfpack and the North Carolina Tar Heels in the same year for the first time since 2013.

With Louisville’s last-second loss to Stanford, only three teams from the ACC remained within the top 25 after Week 12. The Miami Hurricanes (11th) and SMU Mustangs (13th) seem destined for a clash in the conference championship game with a place in the College Football Playoff on the line.

However, if Miami loses once or the Mustangs lose twice, the Clemson Tigers (17th) would slide into place as a potential challenger.

The top five teams remained unchanged with the Oregon Ducks remaining atop the nation despite only beating the Wisconsin Badgers by three points. With their two votes, the Blue Devils unofficially sit in a tie for 35th with Colorado State and James Madison.

Duke football receives close to a dozen votes in the US LBM Coaches Poll

Despite Duke football sitting on a Week 12 bye, the Blue Devils received nine votes in the US LBM Coaches Poll on Sunday.

The Duke Blue Devils took the weekend off in Week 12, but they still received nine votes in the US LBM Coaches Poll released on Sunday.

In his first season with the program, head coach Manny Diaz has reversed some trends in Durham. He took the school to its first 5-0 start in 30 years, and with Duke’s 20-point comeback over the North Carolina Tar Heels and 29-19 victory over NC State, the Blue Devils swept both of those schools in one season for the first time since 2013.

Duke’s 7-3 record is tied for the fourth-best among ACC teams, and the ESPN Football Power Index gives them more than a 26% chance to sweep Virginia Tech and Wake Forest for a 9-3 regular-season record.

The Miami Hurricanes, also on a bye this weekend, broke back into the top 10 to narrowly remain ahead of the SMU Mustangs (12th) as the top team in the ACC. Should they win out, those two programs would meet in Charlotte for the conference title game, but the Clemson Tigers (16th) await if one of them stumbles along the way. With Louisville losing to Stanford, those are now the only three ranked ACC teams.

Check out the full US LBM Coaches Poll below:

Rank Team Record Points
1 Oregon Ducks 11-0 1,375 (55)
2 Ohio State Buckeyes 9-1 1,316
3 Texas Longhorns 9-1 1,263
4 Penn State Nittany Lions 9-1 1,158
5 Indiana Hoosiers 10-0 1,109
6 Notre Dame Fighting Irish 9-1 1096
7 Alabama Crimson Tide 8-2 996
8 Georgia Bulldogs 8-2 993
9 Ole Miss Rebels 8-2 984
10 Miami Hurricanes 9-1 847
11 Tennessee Volunteers 8-2 823
12 SMU Mustangs 9-1 744
13 Boise State Broncos 9-1 714
14 Texas A&M Aggies 8-2 646
15 BYU Cougars 9-1 633
16 Clemson Tigers 8-2 569
17 Army Black Knights 9-0 509
18 Colorado Buffaloes 8-2 464
19 South Carolina Gamecocks 7-3 379
20 Tulane Green Wave 9-2 280
21 Iowa State Cyclones 8-2 268
22 Arizona State Sun Devils 8-2 251
23 UNLV Rebels 8-2 93
24 Memphis Tigers 9-2 77
25 Kansas State Wildcats 7-3 67

Dropped Out

No. 18 Washington State; No. 21 Missouri; No. 22 LSU; No. 24 Louisville

Receiving Votes

Washington State 65; Illinois 56; Missouri 44; Syracuse 18; James Madison 11; Duke 9; Pittsburgh 7; Louisiana 5; Louisville 2; Vanderbilt 1; Sam Houston 1; LSU 1; Colorado State 1

Duke football schedule: Are the Duke Blue Devils playing today? 

Are the Duke Blue Devils playing today? Here’s a look at the schedule and the games to come.

Will the Duke Blue Devils be on the field today in Week 12 of the college football schedule?

Following a 29-19 victory over the NC State Wolfpack in Raleigh last weekend, Duke is on a bye week and will return to the field on Nov. 23 with a home game against Virginia Tech.

In his first season with the program, head coach Manny Diaz has already etched his name into Duke football history. The Blue Devils won their first five games of the season for the first time this century, and their Week 11 victory gave them a season sweep of the Wolfpack and North Carolina Tar Heels for the first time since 2013.

Quarterback [autotag]Maalik Murphy[/autotag] could make his own mark in the final two weeks of the season. With 22 passing touchdowns in 2024, he sits just two short of Anthony Dilweg’s decades-old program record. However, he and the offense will have their hands full outscoring the Hokies and star running back Bhayshul Tuten. Virginia Tech came within four points of taking down Miami before leading the Clemson Tigers at halftime last weekend.

Here’s a full refresher on the 2024 Duke football schedule.

Duke football 2024 schedule

  • Aug. 30: vs Elon Phoenix (W, 26-3)
  • Sept. 6: at Northwestern Wildcats (W, 26-20 2OT)
  • Sept. 14: vs Connecticut Huskies (W, 26-21)
  • Sept. 21: at Middle Tennessee (W, 45-17)
  • Sept. 28: vs North Carolina Tar Heels (W, 21-20)
  • Oct. 5: at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (L, 24-14)
  • Oct. 12: Bye
  • Oct. 18: vs Florida State Seminoles (W, 23-16)
  • Oct. 26: vs SMU Mustangs (L, 28-27 OT)
  • Nov. 2: at Miami Hurricanes (L, 53-31)
  • Nov. 9: at NC State Wolfpack (W, 29-19)
  • Nov. 16: Bye
  • Nov. 23: vs Virginia Tech Hokies
  • Nov. 30: at Wake Forest Demon Deacons
  • Record: 7-3 (3-3)

Who does Duke football draw in the latest USA TODAY Sports bowl projections?

Check out where the latest bowl projections from USA TODAY Sports have the Duke Blue Devils.

With seven wins in their first 10 games of the season, the Blue Devils could really work their way into the prestigious parts of the bowl calendar with another victory or two.

After Duke’s 29-19 victory over the NC State Wolfpack in Week 11, USA TODAY Sports’ Erick Smith pitted the Blue Devils against Minnesota in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl on January 3rd in his updated projections on Tuesday.

The Duke’s Mayo Bowl has become something of a crowd favorite in recent years thanks to its zaniness, embracing a jay of mayonnaise named Tubby as a mascot and dunking winning coaches in mayo instead of Gatorade.

The Golden Gophers have also cemented their bowl eligibility with a 6-4 record to start the season, including wins over the USC Trojans and UCLA Bruins.

Despite their first loss of the season to Georgia Tech on Saturday, Smith still thinks the Miami Hurricanes end up as the ACC champion in the College Football Playoff. He had Cam Ward and the Hurricanes losing to the Alabama Crimson Tide in the quarterfinals.

CBS Sports projects Duke football will face new conference foe in latest bowl projection

In CBS Sports’ latest bowl projection, the Duke Blue Devils are facing a west coast team that recently joined the ACC.

The Duke football team entered Week 11 already eligible for the college football postseason with six wins, but that’s just a starting point. After the Blue Devils took down the NC State Wolfpack, they will enter the final stretch of the season with seven wins and counting on their resume.

As a result, CBS Sports’ Jerry Palm updated his bowl projections to have the Blue Devils facing the California Golden Bears, a new member of the ACC, in the Sun Bowl on December 31. The game would take place in El Paso, Texas.

With a 1-4 record in conference play, the Golden Bears currently sit just 15th in the ACC standings ahead of the Florida State Seminoles and Stanford Cardinals. However, four non-conference wins have California 5-4 for the season as a whole.

Cal started the season 3-0 before losing four in a row, losing one-score games against the Seminoles, Wolfpack, Pittsburgh Panthers, and Miami Hurricanes. The Golden Bears have, however, gotten back on track in the last two weeks by taking down Oregon State and Wake Forest to keep their bowl hopes alive.

For Cal to become bowl-eligible, they need to win one of their last three games against Syracuse, Stanford, and SMU. The Mustangs, the last team left without a conference loss in the ACC, would be the toughest of those three, but the 2-7 Cardinal provide a reasonable task.