Duke Surges Past Illinois, 31-27, in Road Victory

Saturday, September 12

Champaign, Ill.

3:30 p.m.

Duke University

2-0 , 0-0

Illinois

1-1 , 0-0

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Duke	7	14	7	3	31
Illinois	10	14	3	0	27

Duke football rallied from a 24-14 deficit to top Illinois 31-27 on Saturday, September 12.

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Duke Surges Past Illinois, 31-27, in Road Victory

9/12/2026 7:24:00 PM | Football

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Postgame Notes (PDF)Coach Diaz: Postgame Press Conference Walker Eget: Postgame Press Conference Andrew Pellicciotta: Postgame Press Conference Nate Sheppard: Postgame Press Conference Photo Gallery

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Duke stretched its winning streak to six games with a 31-27 victory at Illinois on Saturday, Sept. 12. Sophomore running back Nate Sheppard tallied three total touchdowns, including two receiving scores, to help power the Blue Devils (2-0) to their 11th one-score victory under head coach Manny Diaz.

Quarterback Walker Eget went 15-for-21 through the air, recording 206 passing yards and three touchdown strikes. Jonah Burton started the scoring for the Blue Devils with a touchdown reception in the opening quarter for his first career TD.

On the ground, Sheppard eclipsed 100 yards for the third consecutive game with 147 yards on 24 rushing attempts. The running back is the first Blue Devil to post triple digits on the ground in three consecutive outings since Star Thomas did so during the 2024 campaign.

After falling behind by 10 points, 24-14, late in the second quarter, Duke outscored Illinois by 14 points, 17-3, the rest of the way to secure the road victory. The Blue Devils' defense made several key stops late in the contest, including Evan Smith's first interception as a Blue Devil and a fourth-down pass breakup by Kyon Loud.

Duke's winning streak is its longest since capturing seven consecutive games from Nov. 25, 2023 to Oct. 4, 2024. With the victory, the Blue Devils are 2-0 for the fourth time in the last five seasons, a first for the program since a nine-year stretch from 1949-57.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Illinois scored on its opening drive with a 13-yard strike from Katin Houser to Collin Dixon.
Duke answered immediately to knot the game at 7-7 as Walker Eget tossed his first touchdown pass of the season, connecting with Jonah Burton from 12 yards out. The scoring reception was the first of Burton's career. Nate Sheppard helped the drive along with a 29-yard rush.
The Fighting Illini responded and regained the lead with a 51-yard field goal on the ensuing drive for a 10-7 advantage with 3:41 to play in the opening quarter. After Duke went three-and-out, Dixon caught his second touchdown of the day to boost Illinois' lead to 17-7 with 12:47 remaining in the first half.
A Sheppard 15-yard run on a fake punt kept the Blue Devils' next drive alive. Following a 22-yard pass to Kavon Simmons and a Sheppard 19-yard run, Sheppard punched in a two-yard burst to make it a three-point game, 17-14, with 7:05 left in the second quarter.
The teams continued to trade blows as the half neared. Dixon's third scoring grab of the half put Illinois up 24-14 with 1:48 left, but Sheppard caught a seven-yard Eget pass with 38 seconds to go to make it 24-21 at intermission.
Duke continued its momentum into the second half and took its first lead of the game. Sheppard took an Eget pass three yards into the end zone to put the Blue Devils in front 28-24 with 10:47 left in the third. A Jeremiah Hasley 35-yard reception set up Duke at the Illinois 16-yard line to boost the drive.
Illinois drilled another long field goal, this time from 47 yards, to make it 28-27 with 5:08 to go in the third.
Duke's Cosme Salas converted a career-long 39-yard field goal with13:53 on the clock to extend the Blue Devils' lead back to four at 31-27.
The Blue Devils' defense forced a turnover on downs to end Illinois' next possession and after punting back to the hosts, Duke's defense again made a key play with an interception by Evan Smith with just over seven minutes remaining.
Illinois was presented with one final opportunity to drive the field, starting on their own 20-yard line, but could only muster 18 yards on six plays, capped by a pass breakup by Duke's Kyon Loud on fourth down. The Blue Devils took over on downs and eventually converted on fourth down with the legs of Sheppard to allow Duke to kneel out the remainder of the clock.