Duke Wins Fifth Consecutive ACC Opener, Defeats Stanford, 35-7

Saturday, September 19

Durham, N.C.

4 p.m.

Duke University

3-0 , 1-0

Stanford

1-2 , 0-2

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Stanford	0	7	0	0	7
Duke	0	14	14	7	35

The Duke football team welcomed Stanford to Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium on Saturday, September 19, 2026.

Photo by: Nat LeDonne / Duke Athletics

Duke Wins Fifth Consecutive ACC Opener, Defeats Stanford, 35-7

9/19/2026 7:40:00 PM | Football

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Postgame Notes (PDF)Coach Diaz: Postgame Press Conference Jeremiah Hasley: Postgame Press Conference Nate Sheppard: Postgame Press Conference Kevin O'Connor: Postgame Press Conference Photo Gallery

DURHAM, N.C. – Duke football earned its fifth consecutive win in an ACC opener, fueled by three touchdowns from Nate Sheppard, in a 35-7 victory over Stanford on Saturday evening. The Blue Devils (3-0, 1-0 ACC) and Cardinal (1-2, 0-2 ACC) played a scoreless first quarter, but Duke seized control with a pair of touchdowns before halftime.

With the victory, Duke extended its overall winning streak to seven games, its longest since a seven-game stretch from Nov. 23, 2023 to Oct. 4, 2024. The fifth straight win in an ACC opener is the longest unbeaten streak in such games in program history.

Sheppard rushed for 154 yards and two touchdowns, while adding a receiving score, to increase his season touchdown total to eight. Quarterback Walker Eget went 14-of-24 for 202 yards and one touchdown. Three different Blue Devils reeled in multiple receptions, paced by Jeremiah Hasley's five catches for a career-high 88 yards.

Duke's defense sacked the Stanford signal caller four times, its highest sack total in a game this season. Tyshon Reed Jr. was credited with two of those sacks, his first career multi-sack game, while Kevin O'Connor tallied the first two of his career as well as his first career forced fumble.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Duke opened the game with a surprise onside kick and drove inside Stanford's five-yard line but was unable to convert on fourth-and-goal. The teams traded punts for the remainder of the first frame, with Duke's defense holding the visitors to 0-for-3 on third down.
The Blue Devils got on the board with 10:42 remaining in the second quarter, courtesy of a 32-yard scamper by Nate Sheppard, his longest scoring rush of the season. Duke's scoring drive covered 90 yards in nine plays and included long connections through the air of 22 yards to Jared Richardson and 19 yards to Jaivon Solomon.
Duke's defense forced and recovered a Stanford fumble, giving the Blue Devils the ball right back with 9:05 on the clock. A 19-yard catch and run by Jeremiah Hasley on third down set up an eventual two-yard touchdown reception by Sheppard.
The Cardinal scored right before halftime, going 55 yards in six plays to find the endzone with 16 seconds on the clock.
Sheppard finished with 114 rushing yards in the opening half, giving him 100 or more ground yards in all three first halves this fall.
The first two drives of the second half ended in touchdowns for Duke, beginning with a nine-play, 75-yard march in just over four minutes to start the third quarter. The drive was highlighted by a 32-yard throw down the sideline to Solomon, who reeled in the acrobatic catch. A 26-yard reception by Hasley two plays later set up an easy one-yard push into the endzone by Sheppard.
The Blue Devils forced a Stanford punt and went right back down the field, taking 10 plays and 73 yards for the score, capped by a 16-yard scoring scamper from Kavon Simmons with 2:56 remaining in the third quarter.
Duke's defense limited Stanford to just 61 total yards across the final 18 minutes of play. The Blue Devils capped their scoring efforts with a five-yard rushing touchdown by Jayvian Tanelus, the first of his career, halfway through the final quarter.