NC State football 2025 opponent preview: Duke

The first year of the Manny Diaz era at Duke went exceedingly well. The Blue Devils didn’t miss a beat from what Mike Elko had built in Durham, winning nine games to finish near the top of the ACC standings.  Now, as Diaz prepares for his second season at Duke, the Blue Devils have a mix of returning and new talent. That combination seems to have made Duke a dark horse contender in the league, one NC State will have to battle in Week 4 on Sept. 20 at Wallace Wade Stadium.