Rundown on Duke football before 1st matchup vs. Syracuse since 2020
Duke has had an up-and-down season, getting blown out 45-19 by then-No. 11 Illinois and falling by seven to Tulane. Lars Jendruschewitz | Senior Staff Photographer
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Syracuse’s win over Clemson was colossal in many ways. It was SU’s first-ever win in Death Valley, overcoming a history of second-half collapses. Fran Brown proved the Orange can compete with college football’s blue bloods. But expectations might be tempered after Steve Angeli was ruled out for the season with a torn Achilles.
The quarterback was at the top of his game, recording 1,316 passing yards and 10 touchdowns, while marshaling an elite offense through four contests. Without Angeli, Rickie Collins is the next man up. Once seen as Syracuse’s starter before Angeli transferred to SU in the spring, Collins has tough shoes to fill, which Brown feels he’s ready for.
“I’m happy for Rickie. I’m excited for him. I thought he handled everything the right way,” Brown said of Collins on Monday. “No one deserves an opportunity more than he does.”
Collins’ first test comes Saturday at home against Duke. The Blue Devils have had an up-and-down season, getting blown out 45-19 by then-No. 11 Illinois and falling by seven to Tulane. Last week, they got back on track, winning a shootout over NC State in their Atlantic Coast Conference opener. Which Duke team will show up is a question that will be answered this weekend.
Here’s everything to know before Syracuse’s (3-1, 1-0 ACC) ACC home opener against Duke (2-2, 1-0 ACC):
All-time series
Duke leads 4-1.
Last time they played
Syracuse’s last matchup with Duke came in 2020, when the teams played in an empty JMA Wireless Dome due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Blue Devils dominated the Orange, winning 38-24.
SU’s only lead came in the second quarter after Geoffrey Cantin-Arku recovered a fumble for a touchdown. Duke proceeded to score 17 straight points across the second and third quarters. Tommy DeVito hit Luke Benson to cut SU’s deficit to six, but that was the closest SU would get.
The Blue Devils shredded Syracuse on the ground. Running backs Deon Jackson and Mataeo Durant combined for 332 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Meanwhile, Sean Tucker only managed 53 for the Orange. In total, Duke outgained SU 645-286, picking up 36 first downs as opposed to SU’s 11.
The Blue Devils Report
In 2019, Duke head coach Manny Diaz hired Brown as a co-defensive coordinator at Temple. Just three weeks later, Diaz left for Miami, while Brown stayed to coach under Rod Carey.
Five years later, Diaz and Brown are both in their second year with new programs following successful first seasons. After replacing Mike Elko, who left for Texas A&M, Duke went 9-4, clinching a berth in the Taxslayer Gator Bowl.
The Blue Devils made a splash in the offseason, picking up former Tulane quarterback Darian Mensah, the best available player in the transfer portal. Per multiple reports, Mensah will earn $8 million in one of the biggest Name, Image and Likeness deals ever.
So far, he’s proving to be worth every penny. Mensah has thrown for 1,305 yards and 11 touchdowns with just two interceptions. Through four games, he’s the sixth-highest graded passer in the country (89.9), according to Pro Football Focus. Mensah can sling the ball downfield, finishing with at least 300 yards passing in three of Duke’s four games.
Duke’s defense is a different story. It’s allowing an ACC-worst 32.3 points per game — nearly three points more than Virginia Tech (29.8) — while giving up the fourth-most yards (413.8).
How Syracuse beats Duke
Angeli wasn’t immune to mistakes, turning the ball over four times in four starts, though he offset mistakes with his production. In his first career start, Collins needs to protect the football.
Duke’s defense isn’t elite, but it made NC State quarterback CJ Bailey commit four turnovers (three interceptions, one fumble) last week. Those are the only giveaways the Blue Devils have recorded, but with an inexperienced quarterback like Collins, Duke will be aggressive.
Cornerbacks Demetres Samuel Jr. and Chris Peal will be tested against Mensah, who attempts an average of 36.75 passes per game. The duo needs to have a good outing if Syracuse wants to win.
Samuel — a 17-year-old true freshman — leads Syracuse with eight pass breakups this year, and he’ll line up against Duke’s top receiver, Cooper Barkate. Peal, a Georgia transfer, was a solid addition for the Orange this offseason. Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik needed 60 attempts to throw for 363 yards last week. Saturday will be another good test for SU’s young cornerback duo.
Stat to know: 11
Since 2012, 11 of Syracuse’s Week 1 starters have failed to play in every game. Kyle McCord (2024) and Ryan Nassib (2012) are the only two quarterbacks to have gone wire-to-wire. Collins will be the 15th quarterback to start a game for Syracuse since Nassib.
After Syracuse’s triumph over Clemson, Brown emphasized that Angeli’s injury is “the point of getting two quarterbacks.” Since Angeli was named the starter in late August, SU’s head coach emphasized that Collins was “one play away from being the starter,” and although losing Angeli hurts, Brown has confidence in Collins.
Player to watch: Vincent Anthony, defensive end, No. 7
Vincent Anthony entered 2025 with 7.5 career sacks. He already has an ACC-leading five this year. The 6-foot-6, 250-pound edge rusher is a problem for defenses. He has excellent speed, beating offensive tackles with a quick first step.
On Sept. 6, he took down Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer a career-high three times. Last week, Anthony was held without a sack and tackle for loss for the first time this season. He’ll be hungry for a bounce-back performance and will look to spoil Collins’ debut start.
