Duke Blue Devils Aim for Historic 5-0 Start Against Notre Dame

Saturday night is set to witness one of the most significant football games in Duke University's history. The Duke Blue Devils are gearing up for a monumental clash, as they strive to achieve their first 5-0 start since the memorable year of 1994. This ambitious quest for an undefeated start will unfold under the glaring spotlight of primetime, pitting Duke against one of college football's most iconic programs, Notre Dame.

The kickoff for this high-stakes showdown between Duke and Notre Dame is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on ABC11. Adding to the excitement, ESPN College GameDay, the premier pre-game show, will make its inaugural appearance in Durham just hours before the big game.

The primary challenge confronting Duke in this electrifying encounter is the daunting task of ending Notre Dame's remarkable 29-game winning streak in regular-season matchups against Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) opponents. Notre Dame extended this impressive streak recently, defeating North Carolina State on September 9th.

Duke has already demonstrated its mettle in facing formidable adversaries this season. The team commenced the year with a resounding 28-7 victory over Clemson, who were considered ACC favorites at the time. In fact, that 28-7 final score remains the closest Duke has come to tasting defeat this season.

On the other hand, Notre Dame enters this contest on a somber note, following a heart-wrenching loss to the highly-ranked Ohio State. In a dramatic twist of fate, the Fighting Irish fell behind with mere seconds remaining on the clock when Ohio State capitalized and scored a crucial touchdown, all while Notre Dame had only 10 players on defense.

Players to Keep an Eye On

Notre Dame: QB Sam Hartman - Hartman, who previously faced Duke twice during his tenure at Wake Forest, boasts an impressive track record against the Blue Devils. He threw for six touchdowns and recorded just one interception in the 2021 and 2022 matchups. It was in Mike Elko's debut season as Duke's head coach that the Blue Devils clinched a victory against Hartman and the Demon Deacons.

Duke: WR Jordan Moore - Moore is a standout receiver and the favored target of quarterback Riley Leonard. Moore's recent performance included an impressive eight-catch, 86-yard display that featured a touchdown against UConn.

Key Matchup to Watch

The critical battleground to monitor in this epic clash is Duke's ground game versus Notre Dame's staunch run defense. Notre Dame's defense has been permitting an average of 111.2 yards per game on the ground. They will be tested by Duke's versatile offensive attack, which can effectively move the ball on the ground. Quarterback Riley Leonard, who showcased his mobility with a memorable 44-yard touchdown run in the Week 1 upset against Clemson, leads this dynamic Duke offense. Alongside Leonard, running backs Jordan Waters, Jaquez Moore, and Jaylen Coleman form a potent rushing unit, which averages an impressive 200.5 yards on the ground. However, in their recent victory against Connecticut, this unit managed to muster only 74 rushing yards.