Tulane Holds Off Late Duke Rally for Week 3 Victory
Tulane defeated Duke 34-27 on Saturday, holding on despite a fourth-quarter comeback attempt by the Blue Devils. The Green Wave built an early lead, scoring 14 points in the first quarter and 10 more in the second to establish control. Duke responded with a touchdown pass from Darian Mensah to Sahmir Hagans in the second quarter, though the two-point conversion failed. Tulane extended its advantage with seven third-quarter points as Mensah connected with Cooper Barkate for a key 24-yard gain late in the game. Duke scored 11 fourth-quarter points to make it close, but Tulane's defense made critical stops, including a Jake Retzlaff loss of two yards. Mensah led all passers with 313 yards for Duke, while Nate Sheppard rushed for 75 yards. Shazz Preston hauled in 95 receiving yards for Tulane. The victory covered the spread and pushed the total over 52.5 points.
AI-generated recap · Aug 16, 2026
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Duke | 0 | 9 | 7 | 11 | 27 |
 Tulane | 14 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 34 |
Scoring Timeline
Drive Chart
Box Score
| Statistic | Duke | Tulane |
|---|---|---|
| Passing | 30-51 | 17-25 |
| Pass Yards | 313 | 270 |
| Rush Yards | 139 | 156 |
| Total Yards | 452 | 426 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| 3rd Down | 6-14 | 5-13 |
| Penalties | 9-85 | 8-100 |
| Possession | 26:43 | 33:17 |
Player Leaders
Player Leaders
Play-by-Play
Darian Mensah pass incomplete to Cooper Barkate
Jaquez Moore run for 1 yd to the DUKE 26
Darian Mensah pass incomplete
Kade Reynoldson punt for 38 yds, punt out-of-bounds at the TULN 36
Jake Retzlaff pass complete to Bryce Bohanon for 11 yds to the TULN 47 for a 1ST down
Zuberi Mobley run for 2 yds to the TULN 49
Jake Retzlaff run for 13 yds to the DUKE 38 for a 1ST down
Jake Retzlaff pass complete to Omari Hayes for 13 yds to the DUKE 25 for a 1ST down
Arnold Barnes III run for 6 yds to the DUKE 19
Jake Retzlaff run for 19 yds for a TD (Patrick Durkin KICK)
Jaquez Moore run for 7 yds to the DUKE 47
Darian Mensah pass complete to Que'Sean Brown for 17 yds to the TULN 36 for a 1ST down Tulane Penalty, Roughing The Passer (Santana Hopper) to the TULN 21 for a 1ST down
Jaquez Moore run for 9 yds to the TULN 12
Jaquez Moore run for a loss of 4 yards to the TULN 16
Darian Mensah pass incomplete
PENALTY DUK False Start (Taylor,Jake) 5 yards from TLN16 to TLN21. NO PLAY.
PENALTY DUK False Start (Pickett,Justin) 5 yards from TLN21 to TLN26. NO PLAY.
Todd Pelino 44 yd FG MISSED
Javin Gordon run for 14 yds to the TULN 40 for a 1ST down
Jake Retzlaff pass complete to Zycarl Lewis Jr. for 13 yds to the DUKE 47 Tulane Penalty, Personal Foul (Jimmy Calloway) to the TULN 38
Jake Retzlaff pass complete to Anthony Brown-Stephens for 14 yds to the DUKE 48 for a 1ST down Duke Penalty, Roughing The Passer (Wesley Williams) to the DUKE 33 for a 1ST down
Jake Retzlaff pass complete to Javin Gordon for 15 yds to the DUKE 18 for a 1ST down
Zuberi Mobley run for a loss of 2 yards to the DUKE 20
Tulane Penalty, Illegal Formation (Yards) declined
Brendan Sullivan pass complete to Bryce Bohanon for 14 yds to the DUKE 3 for a 1ST down
Jake Retzlaff run for a loss of 3 yards to the DUKE 6
Javin Gordon run for no gain to the DUKE 6
Jake Retzlaff run for 6 yds for a TD (Patrick Durkin KICK)
Nate Sheppard run for 4 yds to the DUKE 29
Darian Mensah pass complete to Que'Sean Brown for 30 yds to the TULN 41 for a 1ST down
Nate Sheppard run for 12 yds to the TULN 29 for a 1ST down
Darian Mensah pass incomplete to Cooper Barkate
Darian Mensah pass complete to Que'Sean Brown for 13 yds to the TULN 16 for a 1ST down
Peyton Jones run for 5 yds to the TULN 11
Darian Mensah pass incomplete to Cooper Barkate
Peyton Jones run for no gain to the TULN 11
Todd Pelino 28 yd FG GOOD
Arnold Barnes III run for 2 yds to the TULN 37
Jake Retzlaff pass incomplete to Anthony Miller
Jake Retzlaff pass complete to Shazz Preston for 4 yds to the TULN 41
Alec Clark punt for 59 yds for a touchback
Darian Mensah pass incomplete to Jaquez Moore
Darian Mensah run for 2 yds to the DUKE 22
Darian Mensah pass complete to Que'Sean Brown for 8 yds to the DUKE 30 for a 1ST down
Jaquez Moore run for 1 yd to the DUKE 31
Anderson Castle run for 5 yds to the DUKE 36
(10:58) No Huddle-Shotgun Mensah,Darian pass incomplete deep left to Anthony,Andrel thrown to TLN40 PENALTY TLN Pass Interference (Green,LJ) 15 yards from DUK36 to TLN49, 1ST DOWN. NO PLAY.
Anderson Castle run for 13 yds to the TULN 36 for a 1ST down
Anderson Castle run for 3 yds to the TULN 33
Jaquez Moore run for no gain to the TULN 33
Darian Mensah pass incomplete to Cooper Barkate
run for 6 yds to the TULN 39 fumbled, recovered by DUKE Caleb Dorris
run for 6 yds to the TULN 39 fumbled, recovered by DUKE Caleb Dorris
Zuberi Mobley run for 4 yds to the TULN 43
Jake Retzlaff pass complete to Anthony Brown-Stephens for 3 yds to the TULN 46
Jake Retzlaff pass complete to Zuberi Mobley for 6 yds to the DUKE 48 for a 1ST down
Javin Gordon run for no gain to the DUKE 48
Jake Retzlaff pass complete to Shazz Preston for 28 yds to the DUKE 20 for a 1ST down
Jake Retzlaff run for 20 yds for a TD (Patrick Durkin KICK)
Nate Sheppard run for 11 yds to the DUKE 36 for a 1ST down
Darian Mensah pass complete to Que'Sean Brown for a loss of 1 yard to the DUKE 35
(05:15) No Huddle-Shotgun Sheppard,Nate rush middle for 19 yards gain to the TLN46 (Johnson,Jahiem) PENALTY DUK Holding (Craycraft,Matt) 10 yards from DUK35 to DUK25. NO PLAY.
(04:00) No Huddle-Shotgun Mensah,Darian pass complete short right to Brown,Que'Sean caught at DUK22, for 3 yards to the DUK28 (Rodgers,Chris) PENALTY DUK Illegal Shift 5 yards from DUK25 to DUK20. NO PLAY.
Darian Mensah pass intercepted Javion White return for 1 yd to the DUKE 36
Jake Retzlaff pass complete to Omari Hayes for 26 yds to the DUKE 10 for a 1ST down
Jake Retzlaff pass incomplete to Justyn Reid
Jake Retzlaff run for 2 yds to the DUKE 8
Jimmy Calloway run for a loss of 3 yards to the DUKE 11
Patrick Durkin 29 yd FG GOOD
Darian Mensah pass complete to Anderson Castle for 4 yds to the DUKE 29
Darian Mensah pass complete to Anderson Castle for 10 yds to the DUKE 39 for a 1ST down
Darian Mensah pass incomplete to Anderson Castle
Darian Mensah pass incomplete to Que'Sean Brown
Darian Mensah pass complete to Cooper Barkate for 14 yds to the TULN 47 for a 1ST down
(00:59) No Huddle-Shotgun Mensah,Darian pass complete short left to Anthony,Andrel caught at TLN45, for 2 yards to the TLN45 (Shine,E'zaiah) PENALTY TLN Holding (Rodgers,Chris) 10 yards from TLN47 to TLN37, 1ST DOWN. NO PLAY.
Darian Mensah pass complete to Anderson Castle for 12 yds to the TULN 25 for a 1ST down
Darian Mensah pass complete to Anderson Castle for 4 yds to the TULN 29
Darian Mensah pass complete to Sahmir Hagans for 29 yds for a TD (Two-Point Conversion failed)
J. Retzlaff takes a knee
End of 2nd Quarter
Todd Pelino kickoff for 65 yds , Anthony Brown-Stephens return for 12 yds to the TULN 12
Jake Retzlaff run for 1 yd to the TULN 13
Jake Retzlaff pass incomplete to Zycarl Lewis Jr.
Jake Retzlaff run for 29 yds to the TULN 42 Jake Retzlaff fumbled, recovered by DUKE Nick Morris Jr.
Darian Mensah pass complete to Cooper Barkate for 15 yds to the TULN 27 for a 1ST down
Jaquez Moore run for 22 yds to the TULN 5 for a 1ST down
Jaquez Moore run for a loss of 4 yards to the TULN 9
Jaquez Moore run for 6 yds to the TULN 3
Darian Mensah pass complete to Landen King for 3 yds for a TD (Todd Pelino KICK)
Jake Retzlaff pass incomplete to Johnny Pascuzzi
Jake Retzlaff pass incomplete to Johnny Pascuzzi
Jake Retzlaff pass complete to Arnold Barnes III for 12 yds to the TULN 37 for a 1ST down
Jake Retzlaff pass incomplete to Justyn Reid
Javin Gordon run for no gain to the TULN 37
Jake Retzlaff run for 8 yds to the TULN 45
Jake Retzlaff run for 3 yds to the TULN 48 for a 1ST down
Jake Retzlaff pass complete to Omari Hayes for 19 yds to the DUKE 33 for a 1ST down
Brendan Sullivan pass complete to Johnny Pascuzzi for 11 yds to the DUKE 22 for a 1ST down
Jake Retzlaff pass complete to Omari Hayes for 11 yds to the DUKE 11 for a 1ST down
Jake Retzlaff run for 11 yds for a TD (Patrick Durkin KICK)
Nate Sheppard run for 13 yds to the DUKE 38 for a 1ST down
Nate Sheppard run for 35 yds to the TULN 27 for a 1ST down
Jaquez Moore run for 7 yds to the TULN 20
Jaquez Moore run for a loss of 4 yards to the TULN 24
Darian Mensah pass incomplete to Nate Sheppard
Todd Pelino 41 yd FG BLOCKED blocked by Tavare Smith
Todd Pelino 41 yd FG BLOCKED blocked by Tavare Smith
Javin Gordon run for 1 yd to the TULN 25
Javin Gordon run for 3 yds to the TULN 28
Jake Retzlaff pass complete to Anthony Miller for 7 yds to the TULN 35 for a 1ST down
Jake Retzlaff pass complete to Shazz Preston for 63 yds to the DUKE 2 for a 1ST down
(01:01) Retzlaff,Jake rush left for 1 yard gain to the DUK01 (Williams,Wesley) PENALTY TLN Holding (Hurst,Shadre) 10 yards from DUK02 to DUK12. NO PLAY.
Jake Retzlaff run for 5 yds to the DUKE 7
Jake Retzlaff pass incomplete to Anthony Brown-Stephens
Jake Retzlaff sacked by Vincent Anthony Jr. for a loss of 2 yards to the DUKE 9
Patrick Durkin 27 yd FG GOOD
Darian Mensah pass complete to Anderson Castle for 2 yds to the DUKE 27
Darian Mensah pass complete to Anderson Castle for 5 yds to the DUKE 32
Darian Mensah pass incomplete to Jeremiah Hasley
(12:59) No Huddle-Shotgun Mensah,Darian pass incomplete deep right to Brown,Que'Sean thrown to TLN36 PENALTY TLN Pass Interference (White,Javion) 15 yards from DUK32 to DUK47, 1ST DOWN. NO PLAY.
Darian Mensah pass incomplete to Sahmir Hagans
Peyton Jones run for 1 yd to the DUKE 48
Darian Mensah pass complete to Cooper Barkate for 7 yds to the TULN 45
Darian Mensah pass incomplete to Que'Sean Brown
Darian Mensah pass incomplete to Que'Sean Brown
Zuberi Mobley run for no gain to the TULN 45
Jake Retzlaff run for 1 yd to the TULN 46
Jake Retzlaff pass incomplete to Bryce Bohanon
(09:44) Clark,Alec punt 41 yards to the DUK13 fair catch by Brown,Que'Sean at DUK13 PENALTY DUK Roughing The Kicker (Rivers,Chandler) 15 yards from TLN46 to DUK39, 1ST DOWN. NO PLAY.
PENALTY TLN Illegal Snap (Hollifield,Jack) 5 yards from DUK39 to DUK44. NO PLAY.
Arnold Barnes III run for 13 yds to the DUKE 31
Javin Gordon run for no gain to the DUKE 31
Jake Retzlaff run for 1 yd to the DUKE 30
Jake Retzlaff run for a loss of 2 yards to the DUKE 32
Darian Mensah pass incomplete
Darian Mensah pass complete to Jeremiah Hasley for 7 yds to the DUKE 39
Darian Mensah pass complete to Andrel Anthony for 5 yds to the DUKE 44 for a 1ST down
Darian Mensah pass complete to Jeremiah Hasley for 7 yds to the TULN 49
Darian Mensah pass complete to Andrel Anthony for 7 yds to the TULN 42 for a 1ST down
Darian Mensah pass complete to Nate Sheppard for 6 yds to the TULN 36
Darian Mensah pass complete to Nate Sheppard for 5 yds to the TULN 31 for a 1ST down
(05:01) No Huddle-Shotgun Mensah,Darian pass incomplete short right thrown to TLN19 PENALTY DUK Holding (Fina,Bruno) 10 yards from TLN31 to TLN41. NO PLAY.
Darian Mensah pass incomplete to Jeremiah Hasley
Darian Mensah pass incomplete to Cooper Barkate
Darian Mensah pass complete to Cooper Barkate for 7 yds to the TULN 34
Darian Mensah pass complete to Cooper Barkate for 24 yds to the TULN 10 for a 1ST down
Darian Mensah pass incomplete to Que'Sean Brown
Darian Mensah pass complete to Nate Sheppard for 6 yds to the TULN 4
Darian Mensah pass complete to Nate Sheppard for 4 yds for a TD Tulane Penalty, Defensive Holding (Yards) declined (N. Sheppard Run For Two-point Conversion)
Jake Retzlaff run for a loss of 1 yard to the DUKE 48
Arnold Barnes III run for a loss of 2 yards to the 50 yard line
Arnold Barnes III run for 8 yds to the DUKE 42
Alec Clark punt for 28 yds
Darian Mensah pass complete to Peyton Jones for 5 yds to the DUKE 19
Darian Mensah pass incomplete to Peyton Jones
Darian Mensah pass complete to Que'Sean Brown for 14 yds to the DUKE 33 for a 1ST down
Darian Mensah pass incomplete to Sahmir Hagans
Darian Mensah pass complete to Peyton Jones for 13 yds to the DUKE 46 for a 1ST down
Darian Mensah pass incomplete to Sahmir Hagans
Darian Mensah pass complete to Chase Tyler for 39 yds to the TULN 15 for a 1ST down Duke Penalty, Face Mask (15 yards) (Chase Tyler) to the TULN 30 for a 1ST down
Todd Pelino 47 yd FG GOOD
J. Retzlaff takes a knee
J. Retzlaff takes a knee