Duke Football Gears Up for a Challenging 2024 Season Against Top-25 Teams
The Duke Blue Devils are not facing an easy road in the 2024 college football season. Under new head coach Manny Diaz, the team is scheduled to confront a string of formidable opponents, including multiple top-25 ranked teams from last year’s pre-season polls. Although the Blue Devils are losing some traditional rivals from the Coastal Division due to recent ACC reorganization, their new schedule does not shy away from high-stakes contests.
The Duke team will start their challenging season at home against Elon on August 30, which marks the beginning of the Diaz era. The season opener, set for a Friday night, will see Duke facing an FCS team that has shown potential in its preseason coaches poll rankings.
In Week Two, the action intensifies as the Blue Devils travel to the temporary lakeside stadium in Evanston, Illinois, to battle their familiar foes, the Northwestern Wildcats. Over recent years, Duke has dominated this matchup, winning the last five encounters since 2017.
Following that, Week Three sees Duke hosting the Connecticut Huskies. Last year, Duke secured a resounding 41-7 victory against Connecticut, and they’ll be looking to replicate that performance in Durham.
The subsequent week will present a notable challenge before a key rivalry game, as the Blue Devils head to Middle Tennessee. This game, scheduled right before they face UNC, will be critical to maintain momentum.
North Carolina, a team struggling with recent changes, will confront a prepared Duke team in Week Five. This home game represents more than just rankings—it’s a battle for the famed Victory Bell, which Duke aims to reclaim for the first time since 2018.
Following a tough fight against UNC, Duke travels to Georgia Tech, aiming to snap a losing streak that began in 2019 before entering their first bi-week.
Post-bi-week, in Week Eight, the intensity picks up dramatically with a Friday night home game against the preseason #10 Florida State Seminoles. This encounter is expected to be a highlight of the season, with Florida State predicted as conference champions for two consecutive years.
In contrast, Week Nine features a newcomer to the ACC, SMU, ranked just outside the top 25, before Duke heads to a revenge-filled battle at Miami—former team of head coach Manny Diaz—in Week Ten.
The challenge doesn’t wane as in Week Eleven, Duke faces #24 NC State on the road in Raleigh, setting the stage for high tension and dramatic in-state rivalry.
Culminating the regular season, Duke will host Virginia Tech in Week Thirteen, a team just outside the top 25, before facing off against Wake Forest on the road in the finale. The Blue Devils look to secure a win in Winston Salem, a feat not accomplished since 2017, aiming to end the regular season on a high note.
Overall, the 2024 Duke football schedule is laden with challenges that will test the mettle of Coach Diaz and his team as they navigate through top-tier ACC competition and strive for a successful season.
