Looking for the pre-season in-depth preview?
Game time: 3:30pm
Location: Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field
TV: CBS Sports Network
Line (as of 11/5 morning): Duke -9.5
Keys to the Game:
- Unleash Joe: Duke is allowing 263 yards per game through the air, 122nd nationally. Although his streak of 300+ yard games came to an end last week, he’ll need to start a new streak this week to take care of the Blue Devils.
- Gotta run too, though: Duke will no doubt be focused on the pass to start, similar to UAB last week. Cam Edwards’ runs were huge in the early going; 7, 8, 9 yard carries that makes the defense think twice a little. Will need that to ensure the pass game is open.
- Take advantage of Duke’s defensive struggles: the Blue Devils struggle mightily on 3rd downs allowed, and defensive red zone success, in addition to allowing one of the highest passing yard totals per game. Convert on 3rd downs, and get TDs instead of FGs, and they should be in good shape.
- Keep Mensah in check: obviously easier said than done. Mensah will get yards, so I certainly won’t say he needs to be held to “x” yards or fewer, but if the Huskies can mitigate big plays, they’ll be in a position to win. Duke also is 95th nationally in offensive red zone success. K Todd Pelino is 10-15, and 5-10 on attempts between 40-49.
- Avoid “home runs:” Duke’s receivers all have big play capabilities. Leading receiver Cooper Barkate is averaging 17.2 yards per catch, Que’Sean Brown (who had 11 catches for 87 yards and a TD last year against the Huskies as a freshman) averages 14.4, and Sahmir Hagans averages 11.4, in addition to his threat as a kick returner.
- Tackle, tackle, tackle: Coach Mora alluded to it in this week’s press conference, but the tackling is not where it needs to be. The Huskies will need to be more fundamentally sound on Saturday. RB Nate Sheppard has broken 26 tackles, Brown has broken eight, and Barkate with six (if you’re curious, Skyler Bell has broken ten, and Edwards has also broken 26). It’s been an ongoing issue this season, and came to a head against Rice. Can they finally put it together this week?
- Turn it over: this might be one of the tallest tasks, but would be momentous if the Huskies can pull it off. Mensah has thrown just two INTs all year in 290 attempts, and Duke has lost six fumbles. Cam Chadwick broke through last week with three picks, if he can grab even just one, that would be hugely helpful.
Duke the University by the Numbers:
- Location: Durham, NC
- Distance from UConn: 627 mi
- Stadium: Wallace Wade Stadium
- Field Type: Grass
- Capacity: 35,018 (84th nationally)
- Enrollment: 6,849 (128th nationally)
- 2024 Record: 9-4 (5-3 ACC)
- Last Bowl: 2024 Gator Bowl (52-20 L #16 Ole Miss)
- All-Time Bowl Record: 6-9
- 2024 Attendance: 26,183 (76th nationally)
- All-Time Series: 2-2
- Last Meeting: 2024 at Duke
- Returning Starters: 13 (6 offense, 7 defense)
- Returning Lettermen: 36
2025 Schedule:
8/28 - Elon W 45-17
9/6 - #17 Illinois L 45-19
9/13 - at Tulane L 34-27
9/20 - NC State W 38-20
9/27 - at Syracuse W 38-3
10/4 - at Cal W 45-21
10/18 - #12 Georgia Tech L 27-18
11/1 - at Clemson W 46-45
11/8 - at UConn
11/15 - #14 Virginia
11/22 - at North Carolina
11/29 - Wake Forest
Duke-UConn by the Numbers Comparison (Team Stats):
| Statistic | Duke | UConn |
| Offensive Yards per Game | 460.2 (18th) | 455.6 (20th) |
| Passing Yards per Game | 324.2 (4th) | 299.3 (11th) |
| Rushing Yards per Game | 136.0 (93rd) | 156.2 (67th) |
| Points per Game | 35.4 (25th) | 36.9 (15th) |
| 3rd Down Efficiency | 41.8% (52nd) | 43.7% (41st) |
| 4th Down Efficiency | 76.5% (7th) | 61.5% (T-42nd) |
| Interceptions-Yards-TD | 8-149-0 | 8-38-0 |
| Fumbles: Number-Lost | 12-6 | 3-1 |
| Red Zone Success: TD-FG | 80.0% (T-95th): 22-6 | 91.7% (T-21st): 24-9 |
| Defensive Yards per Game | 398.9 (100th) | 391.7 (94th) |
| Passing Yards Allowed per Game | 263.2 (122nd) | 216.7 (66th) |
| Rushing Yards Allowed per Game | 135.6 (52nd) | 175.0 (104th) |
| Points Allowed per Game | 28.1 (T-93rd) | 23.9 (63rd) |
| 3rd Down Efficiency | 43.1% (110th) | 32.6% (22nd) |
| 4th Down Efficiency | 56.2% (78th) | 56.0% (77th) |
| Red Zone Success Allowed: TD-FG | 93.5% (123rd): 22-7 | 89.3% (T-110th): 16-9 |
Top Performers:
QB: Darian Mensah (202-290, 2,572 yards, 21 TDs, 2 INT)
RB: Nate Sheppard (84 carries, 557 yards, 5 TDS - 6.6 ypc)
WR: Cooper Barkate (45 catches, 774 yards, 5 TDs - 17.2 ypc)
Defense: S Caleb Weaver (57 tackles, 0.5 sacks, 1 INT)
Last Three Games:
46-45 W at Clemson
It was a wild back-and-forth affair in South Carolina, with Duke jumping out to a 21-7 lead after one quarter, followed by Clemson posting their own 21-7 second quarter, causing a deadlock at the half. Trailing 45-38, the Blue Devils, led by QB Darian Mensah, went on an eleven play, 94 yard drive over 4:39 to take the lead in a frantic finish. The controversy was a pass interference call on 4th and 10 at the Clemson 18, a play which caused enough of a reaction in Dabo that he was fined by the ACC for his comments. Getting the ball at the three, Nate Sheppard would punch it in, and Mensah hit Sahmir Hagans for the two point conversion and the win.
At 4-1 in conference, Duke has a huge matchup with first place UVA (perhaps looking ahead?), and if they can win that, have very winnable games against UNC and Wake, making 7-1 in conference and a possible championship game a possibility.
27-18 L Georgia Tech
Duke hosted the only undefeated team in the ACC, and the Yellow Jackets left Durham with a two score win, despite losing most stats in the box score. Yards: Duke 441-376. Passing yards: Duke 373-205. Rushing yards: Georgia Tech 171-68. Time of Possession: Duke 33:29-26:31. Nevertheless, another big win for Georgia Tech.
The difference was a 95 yard fumble return for a TD, a school-record for the Jackets, as well as the dual-threat posed by QB Haynes King, who accounted for 325 yards of offense. For Duke, QB Darian Mensah tossed 373 yards on 32-44 passing, but the Blue Devils couldn’t get the run game going, rushing for just 2.1 ypc. In the red zone, the Blue Devils had the aforementioned fumble, a 4th down penalty, and a botched FG attempt.
45-21 W at Cal
Duke crossed the country and handled the Golden Bears. Cal jumped out to a 14-7 lead after one quarter, but the Blue Devils outscored Cal 24-7 in the second to take a 31-21 lead at the half. Duke shut out the Golden Bears in the second half, to take a decisive victory. Duke QB Darian Mensah threw for 265 yards on 22-30 passing, while RB Nate Sheppard rushed for 91 yards on 12 carries. Duke’s defense forced star freshman QB Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele to throw three picks. Duke’s defense also sacked Sagapolutele six times, and had 13 TFLs.
