Duke Football Stuns the ACC: 5 Reasons the Blue Devils Could Be This Season’s Dark-Horse Contenders

Blue Devils eye statement win as No. 11 Illinois visits Wallace Wade Stadium Durham, N.C. – Duke football’s fast-starting Blue Devils look to keep momentum rolling Saturday when they host 11th-ranked Illinois in a Week 2 non-conference clash at Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium. Kickoff is set for noon ET on ESPN and the ESPN app, with Fubo offering a free stream trial for cord-cutters. Second-year head coach Manny Diaz opened 2025 with a 45-17 rout of Elon, unleashing red-shirt sophomore quarterback Darian Mensah for 389 yards and three touchdowns in his first career start. A win Saturday would give Duke (1-0) its first victory over a ranked opponent since shocking No. 9 Clemson in 2023—and a résumé builder before ACC play. Illinois (1-0) arrives after a 52-3 demolition of Western Illinois behind veteran signal-caller Luke Altmyer’s efficient three-TD outing. The Illini ride an eight-game regular-season win streak and boast one of the nation’s stingiest defensive lines under Bret Bielema. Game essentials • Kickoff: Saturday, Sept. 6, 12 p.m. ET • TV: ESPN | Stream: ESPN app, Fubo (trial) • Location: Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium, Durham, N.C. • Series: Tied 1-1 (last meeting 1965) Key storylines 1. Mensah’s encore Duke’s up-tempo attack averaged 7.8 yards per play against Elon, spreading the ball to nine receivers. Illinois’ front, anchored by preseason All-Big Ten end Jer’Zhan Newton, will be a far stiffer test. If Mensah keeps the chains moving with quick reads and designed quarterback draws, the Blue Devils can neutralize Illinois’ pass rush. 2. Battle in the trenches Illinois ranked top-10 nationally in sacks and rushing defense last fall. Duke counters with four returning O-line starters led by left tackle Graham Barton. The matchup could decide whether Jordan Waters and the Duke ground game control tempo late. 3. Turnover margin Duke finished +11 in 2024 and forced two takeaways in the opener. Altmyer threw just five interceptions last year; prying one out could flip the game. Injury report Duke remains without All-ACC safety Terry Moore (ACL) but reported no new injuries this week. Illinois lists starting guard Josh Kreutz as questionable (ankle). What a win means for Duke A 2-0 start would set up the Blue Devils for a pivotal road trip to Tulane on Sept. 13 before ACC rival NC State visits Durham on Sept. 20. With Clemson and UNC looming in November, stacking victories now is crucial for Diaz’s goal of an ACC Championship Game appearance. 2025 Duke football schedule (remaining) • Sept 13 – at Tulane, 8 p.m. ET • Sept 20 – vs NC State • Sept 27 – at Syracuse • Oct 4 – at Cal • Oct 18 – vs Georgia Tech • Nov 1 – at Clemson • Nov 8 – at UConn (3:30 p.m.) • Nov 15 – vs Virginia • Nov 22 – at North Carolina • Nov 29 – vs Wake Forest How to watch and stream Fans in the Triangle can tune to WTVD-11 for the ESPN broadcast or stream via ESPN.com with a TV-provider login. Fubo, YouTube TV, Sling Orange and Hulu Live all carry ESPN; new users can sign up for free trials through kickoff. Ticket outlook & gameday tips Limited lower-bowl seats remained as of Thursday afternoon on Duke’s official site, starting at $55. Lots open at 7 a.m.; Duke encourages fans to enter through the Blue North and Blue South gates to ease congestion. The forecast calls for sunny skies and 83°F, so hydration stations will be available on the concourse. Prediction Illinois’ defensive front is elite, but Duke’s home-field energy and an emerging star under center make this a potential upset special. Expect a one-score game deep into the fourth quarter. If Mensah avoids turnovers, the Blue Devils could author their biggest non-conference win since 2014. Search-friendly takeaway Duke football vs. Illinois kicks off at noon ET Saturday on ESPN; stream options, injury updates, and expert prediction favor a tight battle as Darian Mensah seeks to upset the No. 11 Illini in Durham.