The Blue Devils have turned a period of promise into a proven powerhouse, highlighted by an ACC championship and three nine‑win campaigns in the last four years under head coach Manny Diaz, who finishes his tenure with a 39‑24 record.
A championship foundation
The offense that powered the run was among the most prolific in the conference, averaging 285 yards per game through the air, with quarterback Darian Mensah topping the ACC at nearly 4,000 yards and 34 touchdowns while throwing only six interceptions.
Receiving standout Nate Sheppard earned second‑team All‑ACC honors with 1,132 yards and 11 scores, and the team posted a 6‑1 record whenever it rushed for over 140 yards, highlighted by linebacker Luke Mergott’s 90 tackles and two interceptions.
Defensively, the unit forced six games with double‑digit tackles for loss and won all six, but the departure of top safety Terry Moore, top receivers Cooper Barkate and Que’Sean Brown, and the exiting Mensah leaves a sizable void.
Walker Eget, a seasoned passer from San Jose State, is expected to inherit the starting role, yet the program faces the dual challenge of replacing key departures and tightening a defense that must improve if the 2026 campaign is to repeat recent success.