CFB Top 50, #46: 2025 Duke Blue Devils

by
Bracket Yard
July 8, 2025

Next up, at number 46 on the Bracket Yard’s CFB Top 50 countdown are the 2025 Duke Blue Devils.

Duke, in its first season under Manny Diaz, was a nine-win season. They were not a contender in the ACC at the end of the day, but they did put together one of the conference’s better seasons. As for what Diaz and his team can do for an encore this season, well, we think they’ll be one of FBS’s 50-best teams, so that might have to be enough of a guess for now. If that’s not good enough for you, we can give you more details on what kind of season we foresee for the Blue Devils.

2025 Duke Blue Devils Basic Facts

Head Coach: Manny Diaz (2nd season)

2025 Conference: Atlantic Coast Conference

2024 Record: 9-4 (5-3)

Final Resolution of Last Season: Lost Gator Bowl

Duke Key Additions and Subtractions

IN – Bryce Davis, defensive end. Four-star recruit from North Carolina.

IN – Andrel Anthony, wide received. Transferred from Oklahoma.

IN – Darian Mensah, quarterback. Transferred from Tulane.

OUT – Maalik Murphy, quarterback. Transferred to Oregon State.

OUT – Star Thomas, running back. Transferred to Tennessee.

Best Game on the Schedule in 2025

November 22 at North Carolina. The Blue Devils will get to face their rivals for the first time while they are being coached by Bill Belichick. No doubt they will want to give UNC a black eye in this big game.

2025 Duke Blue Devils: Outlook

Duke’s 2024 quarterback, Maalik Murphy, has left the building. Darian Mensah, formerly the quarterback for Tulane, is the new leader on the depth chart at that position. Mensah had a good season for the Green Wave last year, throwing 22 touchdown passes while throwing for over 2,700 yards. That Tulane team was successful, so no doubt Duke is hoping they can plug him into the role and maintain a similar level of success to last season, if not surpass it.

What’s ironic is that Duke plays Tulane in New Orleans on September 13. You know Mensah and Duke do not want to lose that homecoming, because when you look at the schedule, it’s not very easy. They have one FCS game against Elon and another road game at UConn, but the other two non-conference games are respectable. As established, Tulane is a decent team, and Illinois is a potential ranked team. With regards to conference games, Syracuse, Clemson, and North Carolina are road games. They get both of their Triangle rivals in Durham this year.

Duke had competent quarterback play and an anemic run game in 2024. Where this team helped itself a lot was on its defense. They only gave up in excess of 30 points twice, and unfortunately, one of those was in their bowl game. On seven occasions, they allowed 20 points or less. Manny Diaz’s team will need more of the same to navigate their ACC schedule, which features some winnable games. Another nine-win season may or may not be in the cards, but they are not expecting or hoping for a big drop-off, either. It would be a surprise if Duke does not return to a bowl game in 2025.