The 2025 college football season starts on Aug. 28 for the Duke Blue Devils.
Media members picked the team to finish sixth in the 2025 ACC Preseason Poll among the conference’s 17 teams.
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Here’s a look at Duke’s top storylines for the 2025 season.
Can Duke’s Manny Diaz do it again?
Duke was the best Division I team in the state of North Carolina with a 9-4 record in 2024, Manny Diaz’s first season with the program. It’s reflected in the fact that Duke received votes in the 2025 preseason Associated Press and coaches' poll, whereas NC State, UNC and Wake Forest did not.
Last season, the Blue Devils beat in-state rivals North Carolina, NC State and Wake Forest.
Can the Blue Devils replicate and build on the success as Diaz enters his second season? Duke hasn’t won a conference title since 1989.
Duke has won 10 games once in program history. The Blue Devils last accomplished the feat in 2013 when they won the ACC Coastal Division title.
The Blue Devils open the season hosting Elon on Aug. 28 at Wallace Wade Stadium.
Heralded transfer QB Darian Mensah to begin Duke career
Quarterback Darian Mensah transferred from Tulane with three seasons of eligibility left. He is making a reported $8 million in the next two seasons, making him among the highest-paid players ever since name, image and likeness deals started in 2021.
Mensah replaces Maalik Murphy, who transferred to Oregon State.
Mensah was among four Duke players at the 2025 ACC Kickoff event. He was No. 3 in ESPN.com’s final transfer rankings.
The California native has started 13 games, completing 189 of 287 passes for 2,723 yards with 22 touchdowns and six interceptions. He became one of 10 quarterbacks in Tulane history to throw for 20-plus passing touchdowns in a season.
Several reports indicate that Mensah trained in the summer with Cam Ward, the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Mensah is due to play against his former team when the Blue Devils take on the Tulane Green Wave on Sept. 13 in New Orleans.
Mensah needs to develop a rapport with his receivers, a position where Duke has some newcomers.
Darian Mensah’s connection with Duke wide receivers
Last season’s two top receivers, Jordan Moore (Cincinnati Bengals) and Eli Pancol (Jacksonville Jaguars) are gone to the NFL.
Duke returns Que’Sean Brown (41 receptions, 445 yards and two touchdowns) and Sahmir Hagans (47 receptions, 413 yards and three touchdowns), who both contributed last season.
Oklahoma transfer Andrel Anthony and Harvard transfer Cooper Barkate look to contribute to the passing game, too.
Can RB Jacquez Moore return to form?
Injuries limited Jacquez Moore to five games in the 2024 season, in which he had 32 carries for 86 yards and a touchdown.
Moore was a key contributor to Duke in the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
Duke’s running game struggled in the 2024 season, during which the Blue Devils averaged only 3.2 yards per carry.
Chandler Rivers, Terry Moore bring talent to Duke’s defensive backfield
Senior Chandler Rivers is considered one of the nation’s best cornerbacks, earning All-America selections by several different publications in the 2024 season. He started all 13 games, had 54 tackles, 7.5 tackles for a loss, 1 sack, 3 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery and eight pass breakups.
Rivers, listed at 5’10” and 180 pounds, could have an NFL future. He was one of Duke’s four players at the 2025 ACC Kickoff event.
Meanwhile, safety Terry Moore tore his ACL in Duke’s December bowl game against Ole Miss. He missed all of spring practice.
It’s unclear when Moore will return to the field, but Diaz said he will not be ready for the Aug. 28 opener against Elon.
Last season, Moore had 71 tackles, 1 sack, 2 forced fumbles, 4 interceptions and 5 pass deflections. He was named second-team All-ACC.
Keep an eye on Sam Houston State transfer Caleb Weaver, who was also highly coveted.
Duke linebackers boast experience
Two-time All-ACC selection Tre Freeman returns for his fifth and final season.
In 41 career games (21 starts), Freeman has recorded 194 tackles, 10 tackles for a loss, 3 sacks, three interceptions, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, five pass break-ups and nine quarterback pressures.
Nick Morris Jr. also returns. He’s played in 20 games and made six starts. He’s recorded 75 tackles, 3 tackles for a loss, 1 sack and 1 fumble recovery.
There is excitement around incoming freshman Bradley Gompers.
Plus, Duke has a British linebacker named Memorable Factor. The London native has a YouTube channel with 113,00 subscribers. He produces content about cricket, rugby, soccer and football … that is, American football.
Duke football schedule 2025 (all times Eastern)
7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28: Elon at Duke
Noon Saturday, Sept. 6: Illinois at Duke
8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13: Duke at Tulane
Saturday, Sept. 20: NC State at Duke
Saturday, Sept. 27: Duke at Syracuse
Saturday, Oct. 4: Duke at California
Saturday, Oct. 18: Georgia Tech at Duke
Saturday, Nov. 1: Duke at Clemson
Saturday, Nov. 8: Duke at Connecticut
Saturday, Nov. 15: Virginia at Duke
Saturday, Nov. 22: Duke at UNC
Saturday, Nov. 29: Wake Forest at Duke
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