Duke football's championship dreams are facing an early test, and ESPN analysts aren't betting on a repeat ACC title just yet. After the Blue Devils claimed their first outright conference crown since 1962 and delivered back-to-back nine-win seasons, head coach Manny Diaz had every reason to believe 2026 would be even bigger. But the transfer portal had other plans.

The biggest blows came from within the ACC itself. Starting quarterback Darian Mensah and top receiver Cooper Barkate both bolted for rival Miami, leaving Duke scrambling for solutions at the last minute. While Diaz and his staff responded quickly—landing quarterback Walker Eget and receiver Jared Richardson from the portal—replacing two stars who defined last year's offense is no small task.

ESPN's Eli Lederman, Max Olson, and Adam Rittenberg took notice. In their ranking of every ACC team's offseason performance, Duke landed at No. 12 out of 17 teams. That's a tough spot for a program that just broke a 64-year drought.

But it's not all doom and gloom in Durham. The Blue Devils got a critical boost when Eget was cleared by the NCAA for a sixth year of eligibility. The former two-year starter threw for over 5,500 yards at San Jose State and brings veteran stability to the huddle. Duke's offense will also revolve around All-ACC running back Nate Sheppard, and the receiving corps got an upgrade with FCS All-American Jared Richardson (Penn), tight end Nate Kurisky (Louisville), and 35-game starting tackle Del Grande (Coastal Carolina).

This isn't Duke's first rodeo with quarterback turnover. When Maalik Murphy left after the 2024 season for Oregon State, the Blue Devils found a way to reload and win big. With a proven system, a strong supporting cast, and a coach who's already turned doubt into championships, there's reason to believe Duke can defy expectations once again.