Duke Is Getting Another Crack At Tulane Because Duke Is Hosting Tulane For 2026 Season Opener Saturday Afternoon In Durham
A season ago Duke lost to Tulane 34 -27 on the road at Tulane Saturday September 13, 2025!
As Duke sustained 34-27 loss to Tulane Todd Pelino missed 44 yard field following penalties, fumbled snap.
Duke’s defense let Tulane starting quarterback Jake Retzlaff score four touchdowns!
Jake Retzlaff first touchdown was a 19 yard rushing touchdown, Patrick Durkin kicked, made extra point giving Tulane a 7-0 lead in 1st quarter before Jake Retzlaff ran for 6 yard touchdown , Patrick Durkin kicked, made extra point extending Tulane’s lead 14-0 in 1st quarter. In the 2nd quarter Jake Retzlaff ran for 20 yard run , Patrick Durkin kicked, made extra point extending Tulane’s lead over Duke 21-3. In the 3rd quarter Jake Retzlaff ran for 11 yard run , Patrick Durkin kicked, made extra point extending Tulane’s over Duke 31-16. Though,
The final score would end up being 34-27 because Nate Sheppard would catch 4 yard pass from Darian Mensah , Nate Sheppard would convert two point conversion trimming Duke’s deficit, Tulane’s lead 34-24 before Todd Pelino would kick 47 yard field goal to get Duke within 34-27 though it wouldn’t be enough.
Following Duke’s 34-27 loss to Tulane Duke Head Coach Manny Diaz had this to say about Darian Mensah who was opposing his former team about his team opposing Tulane quarterback Jake Retzlaff
That was difficult for him,it about him but that’s a really, really difficult thing to do. “I thought Darian battled. I thought he played hard. It was difficult but I think he’ll learn a lot from this experience today.”
We let the quarterback dictate the game with his legs,”They had us on our heels early in the game, and then any response that we made they were able to counter or match
According to Chip Alexander News & Observer article https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/duke/article312019204.html
Duke is getting another crack at Tulane because Duke is hosting Tulane for 2026 season opener Saturday afternoon in Durham.
Though,
Mother nature could get in the way as it’s intermittent clouds with 49 % chance at kickoff before thunderstorms arrive chances increase to 64 % at 4:00pm before it turns cloudy chances of rain decrease to 30 % at 5:00pm before it remains cloudy with chances decreasing to 24 % at 6:00pm 30 % at 7:00pm when the game is supposed to be over.
According to Accuweather on ESPN App
With Darian Mensah now quarterback of Miami Duke has a new starting quarterback in Walker Eget who is a transfer from San Jose State Walker Eget committed to Duke following his visit on January 21, 2026 following transferring from San Jose State.
On Thursday February 19, 2026 Walker Eget officially became a member of the Duke Football team as Walker Eget was granted an additional year of eligibility by the NCAA .
According to Anna Snyder Fayetteville Observer article https://www.fayobserver.com/story/sports/college/football/2026/02/19/duke-football-walker-eget-eligibility-ncaa/88766013007/
As a redshirt senior for San Jose State Walker Eget Had career-highs with 3,051 passing yards and 17 touchdowns in only 11 games played during the regular season
His 3,051 passing yards are the ninth most in an SJSU single season during the regular season
The 3,051 passing yards were good for second in the Mountain West and 21st in the nation during the regular season
His 277.4 passing yards per game were second best in the Mountain West and 11th best in the nation during the regular season
He averaged 13.13 yards per completion, which was second most in the Mountain West and 22nd most in the nation during the regular season
Threw for 458 yards (Second 450-yard-plus game in 2025) and two touchdowns vs. Hawai‘i (11/01)
Missed the majority of the second half, 23-for-37, 295 yards, four touchdowns with a career-best 72-yard touchdown at Wyoming (10/11)
Went career-best 26-for-30 with three touchdowns for 334 yards vs. New Mexico (10/03)
Threw for all career-highs, going 36-for-58 for 473 yards, plus three touchdowns at Stanford (09/27)
The 473 passing yards were the fourth most in an FBS game in the 2025 regular season
According to https://sjsuspartans.com/sports/football/roster/player/walker-eget
According to Abby DiSalvo article in Duke Chronicle https://www.dukechronicle.com/article/duke-football-commitment-brief-walker-eget-manny-diaz-mensah-barkate-spartans-san-jose-state-20260126
Walker Eget is taking over quarterback position for Darian Mensah who transferred to Miami
Walker Eget beat out Dan Mahan for starting quarterback position who was a freshman during 2025 season!
At the time of Walker Eget being named Duke’s starting quarterback Duke Head Coach Manny Diaz shared his thoughts on Walker Eget by saying we’ve got a guy who has a lot of promise but hasn’t done it yet and one guy who has a lot of production but is just getting in our offense and learning when camp began.
It was good decision because it was a hard decision Manny Diaz said on Media Call Tuesday . We’re really pleased with how both quarterbacks developed. I think Dan has made really massive strides with all reps he got in spring with Walker limited . And then through competition we had training camp . I think the team believers we can win with both guys . Both guys have a different set of skill sets that we frame our offense around . But what it all came down to was about consistency which normally what you would expect from an older guy , of keeping that same level every day.
Though,
Head Coach Manny Diaz wasn’t the only one to share his thoughts on Walker Eget as his new teammate Duke graduate student, tight end Jeremiah Hasely shared his thoughts on Walker Eget as well by saying he has a lot of grit in him . He played a lot last year an injury (ACL ) and I’m sure many could do that.
According to Chip Alexander News & Observer article! https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/duke/article316999912.html
Kick off is set for 3:30pm Eastern Time from Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium!
The game is going to be televised on ACC Network with Jorge Sedano , Rodney McLeod , Ashley Stroelein commentating!
Jorge Sedano hosts Sedano & Kap on ESPNLA 710 weekday mornings from 7 a.m. – 10 a.m. PT. Sedano contributes to ESPNLA 710’s Lakers coverage and is a frequent guest on the station’s other talk shows to discuss the NBA. He is also a sideline reporter for ESPN and ABC’s NBA game coverage as well as a regular contributor to the network’s studio shows including NBA Today and SportsCenter. He currently provides play-by-play commentary for college football on ACC Network and has also called select UFL games.
Sedano began with ESPNLA 710 in September 2016 as a co-host on Mornings with Keyshawn, Jorge and LZ, alongside former USC and NFL star wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson and writer LZ Granderson.
Sedano joined ESPN in 2013 as the host of Sedano & Stink on ESPN Radio, with Mark Schlereth. Following Schlereth’s departure from ESPN Radio in March 2015, Sedano premiered The Sedano Show nationally. Teaming up with Israel Gutierrez, the show became Jorge & Izzy from February-September 2016 before Sedano’s transition to ESPNLA 710. Sedano would also contributed regularly to ESPN’s studio show Around the Horn.
Prior to joining ESPN, he served as program director and afternoon host at Sports Radio WQAM in Miami for one year. Sedano also served as studio host for Fox’s Sun Sports telecasts of the Miami Heat in 2012-13.
His radio career began in Miami in 1999 and has included stints on WAFN-AM until 2001, WINZ-AM (2001-04), and The Ticket Miami (2007-12). He hosted the Miami Heat pre and post-game shows on WIOD-AM from 2004-2007. He also spent those three years hosting a nationally syndicated show for Fox Sports Radio in Los Angeles (2004-2007).
His television career began in 2010 on CBS 4 WFOR-TV in Miami as a sports anchor which included hosting duties for CBS Sports. He contributed to ESPN and the NFL Network programming. Sedano’s resume also includes local football play-by-play for Florida International University for two seasons, 2010-11.
Sedano graduated from Florida International University in 1999.
Rodney McLeod joined ESPN and ACC Network as a college football analyst in 2025 following a distinguished 13-year NFL career. A Super Bowl LII champion with the Philadelphia Eagles, McLeod played for four franchises and earned multiple humanitarian awards, including the Walter Payton Man of the Year nomination and the Alan Page Award. He is known for his leadership on and off the field, including co-founding the Change Our Future Foundation.
A University of Virginia graduate and four-year standout (2008-11) for the Cavaliers at safety, McLeod is passionate about teaching the game and sharing stories of rising athletes. He lives in Philadelphia with his family and continues to make an impact through philanthropy, fashion and community engagement.
Ashley Stroehlein is a sports reporter who is based in Charlotte, NC, and has covered multiple professional and collegiate sports ranging from the NBA, NFL, MLS, ACC, SEC and more. Stroehlein currently contributes to Charlotte Hornets On SI, ESPN’s coverage of college football as a sideline reporter, serves as a freelance host on SiriusXM’s NBA and NASCAR Radio channels and as a fill-in host and sideline reporter for FanDuel Sports Network’s coverage of the Charlotte Hornets. Ashley graduated with honors from Radford University, majoring in mathematics. She moved to North Carolina to teach secondary math and coach basketball and track. However, her passion for sports led her to decide to return to school to study broadcasting. Ashley’s work as an anchor and storyteller has earned her many industry honors. Most notably, she is a three-time recipient of the prestigious Gracie Award, which recognizes exemplary programming created by, for and about women in all facets of media and entertainment.
According to https://espnpressroom.com/bio/jorge-sedano/
https://espnpressroom.com/bio/rodney-mcleod/
https://www.si.com/nba/hornets/onsi/author/ash-stroehl