Duke Dominates Syracuse 38-3 in Week 5 Blowout
Duke's defense set the tone early, with Caleb Weaver returning an interception 40 yards to spark the Blue Devils' offensive onslaught. Nate Sheppard scored on a 49-yard rushing touchdown in the first quarter as Duke jumped out to a commanding lead, scoring 10 points in Q1 alone.
The Blue Devils' offense continued to pressure Syracuse throughout the contest, adding 14 points in the second quarter to build a insurmountable advantage. Duke's passing attack, led by Darian Mensah's 268 yards, kept Syracuse's defense on its heels. Mensah connected with receivers including Que'Sean Brown on key third-down conversions.
Syracuse managed only a field goal, scored in the opening quarter, and struggled offensively all afternoon. Despite efforts from rushers like Yasin Willis (63 yards) and receiver Johntay Cook II (84 yards), the Orange were unable to generate sustained momentum.
Duke's defense remained stout throughout, limiting Syracuse's opportunities and forcing critical mistakes. The final score of 38-3 reflects Duke's complete dominance on both sides of the ball in this Week 5 matchup.
AI-generated recap · Aug 13, 2026
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Duke | 10 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 38 |
 Syracuse | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Scoring Timeline
Drive Chart
Box Score
| Statistic | Duke | Syracuse |
|---|---|---|
| Passing | 22-28 | 24-37 |
| Pass Yards | 268 | 229 |
| Rush Yards | 236 | 85 |
| Total Yards | 504 | 314 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 3 |
| 3rd Down | 6-13 | 5-14 |
| Penalties | 9-105 | 4-55 |
| Possession | 31:35 | 28:25 |
Player Leaders
Player Leaders
Play-by-Play
Todd Pelino kickoff for 65 yds , Jaden Hart return for 11 yds to the SYR 11
Rickie Collins pass complete to Johntay Cook for 18 yds to the SYR 29 for a 1ST down Duke Penalty, Personal Foul (Chandler Rivers) to the SYR 44 for a 1ST down
Will Nixon run for 6 yds to the 50 yard line
Rickie Collins pass incomplete to Dan Villari
Rickie Collins pass complete to Johntay Cook for 14 yds to the DUKE 36 for a 1ST down
Rickie Collins pass intercepted Caleb Weaver return for 40 yds to the SYR 45
(13:24) PENALTY DUKE Pass Interference 15 yards from SYRA45 to DUKE40. NO PLAY.
Darian Mensah pass complete to Que'Sean Brown for 25 yds to the SYR 35 for a 1ST down
Darian Mensah pass complete to Que'Sean Brown for 8 yds to the SYR 27
Nate Sheppard run for 17 yds to the SYR 10 for a 1ST down
Nate Sheppard run for 2 yds to the SYR 8
(11:08) PENALTY DUKE Pass Interference 15 yards from SYRA08 to SYRA23. NO PLAY.
Anderson Castle run for 1 yd to the SYR 22
Darian Mensah pass complete to Que'Sean Brown for 17 yds to the SYR 5
Todd Pelino 22 yd FG GOOD
Yasin Willis run for a loss of 3 yards to the SYR 22
Rickie Collins pass complete to Yasin Willis for 2 yds to the SYR 24
Rickie Collins pass complete to Darrell Gill Jr. for 18 yds to the SYR 42 for a 1ST down
Will Nixon run for 3 yds to the SYR 45
Rickie Collins pass complete to Dan Villari for 5 yds to the 50 yard line
Yasin Willis run for 9 yds to the DUKE 41 for a 1ST down
Yasin Willis run for 35 yds to the DUKE 6 for a 1ST down
Yasin Willis run for 2 yds to the DUKE 4
Rickie Collins sacked for a loss of 7 yards to the DUKE 11
Rickie Collins pass incomplete
Tripp Woody 29 yd FG GOOD
Darian Mensah pass complete to Nate Sheppard for 5 yds to the DUKE 30
Darian Mensah pass incomplete to Sahmir Hagans
Darian Mensah pass complete to Cooper Barkate for 21 yds to the SYR 49 for a 1ST down
Nate Sheppard run for 49 yds for a TD (Todd Pelino KICK)
Jack Stonehouse punt for 45 yds, fair catch by Que'Sean Brown at the DUKE 40
Todd Pelino kickoff for 65 yds , Jaden Hart return for 13 yds to the SYR 13
Duke Penalty, Defensive Pass Interference (Yards) to the SYR 13
Will Nixon run for 2 yds to the SYR 15
Rickie Collins pass incomplete to Dan Villari
Jaquez Moore run for no gain to the DUKE 40
Darian Mensah pass complete to Sahmir Hagans for 11 yds to the SYR 49 for a 1ST down
Duke Penalty, Intentional Grounding (Chandler Rivers) to the DUKE 43
Darian Mensah pass incomplete
Darian Mensah pass complete to Sahmir Hagans for 8 yds to the SYR 49
Kade Reynoldson punt for 32 yds, fair catch by Davien Kerr at the SYR 17
Yasin Willis run for 9 yds to the SYR 26
Will Nixon run for 1 yd to the SYR 27 for a 1ST down
Will Nixon run for 2 yds to the SYR 29
Rickie Collins pass complete to Johntay Cook for 8 yds to the SYR 37 for a 1ST down
No Huddle-Shotgun Collins,Rickie pass incomplete short right to Ross-Simmons,Justus thrown to SYRA44 PENALTY DUKE Pass Interference 15 yards from SYRA37 to DUKE48, 1ST DOWN. NO PLAY.
No Huddle-Shotgun Collins,Rickie pass incomplete short left to Nixon,Will thrown to DUKE46 PENALTY SYRA Holding 10 yards from DUKE48 to SYRA42. NO PLAY.
Rickie Collins pass incomplete to Johntay Cook
Rickie Collins pass complete to Johntay Cook for 19 yds Johntay Cook fumbled, recovered by DUKE Bradley Gompers
Darian Mensah pass complete to Nate Sheppard for 18 yds to the SYR 43 for a 1ST down
Nate Sheppard run for 9 yds to the SYR 34
Darian Mensah pass complete to Cooper Barkate for 34 yds for a TD (Todd Pelino KICK)
Yasin Willis run for 5 yds to the SYR 30
Yasin Willis run for no gain to the SYR 30
Rickie Collins pass complete to Johntay Cook for 4 yds to the SYR 34
Yasin Willis run for 2 yds to the SYR 36 for a 1ST down
No Huddle-Shotgun Collins,Rickie pass complete short middle to Nixon,Will caught at SYRA40, for 4 yards to the SYRA40 (Freeman,Tre; Mergott,Luke) PENALTY SYRA Pass Interference 15 yards from SYRA36 to SYRA21. NO PLAY.
Rickie Collins run for a loss of 10 yards to the SYR 11 Rickie Collins fumbled, recovered by DUKE Rickie Collins
Rickie Collins pass incomplete
Will Nixon run for 6 yds to the SYR 17
Jack Stonehouse punt for 51 yds
Darian Mensah pass complete to Jeremiah Hasley for 5 yds to the DUKE 37
Darian Mensah run for a loss of 2 yards to the DUKE 35
Darian Mensah pass complete to Cooper Barkate for 5 yds to the DUKE 40
Anderson Castle run for 4 yds to the DUKE 44 for a 1ST down
PENALTY SYRA Pass Interference 15 yards from DUKE44 to SYRA41, 1ST DOWN. NO PLAY.
Anderson Castle run for 3 yds to the SYR 38
Anderson Castle run for 5 yds to the SYR 33
Anderson Castle run for no gain to the SYR 33
Darian Mensah run for 3 yds to the SYR 30 for a 1ST down
Nate Sheppard run for 1 yd to the SYR 29
Darian Mensah pass incomplete to Nate Sheppard
Darian Mensah pass complete to Anderson Castle for 17 yds to the SYR 12 for a 1ST down
Darian Mensah pass complete to Cooper Barkate for 12 yds for a TD Syracuse Penalty, Defensive Pass Interference (Yards) declined (Todd Pelino KICK)
Will Nixon run for 5 yds to the SYR 30
Rickie Collins pass complete to Johntay Cook for 2 yds to the SYR 32
Rickie Collins run for 1 yd to the SYR 33
Jack Stonehouse punt for 45 yds, fair catch by Cooper Barkate at the DUKE 22
Darian Mensah pass complete to Nate Sheppard for 2 yds to the DUKE 24
Nate Sheppard run for 32 yds to the SYR 44 for a 1ST down
Darian Mensah pass complete to Que'Sean Brown for 7 yds to the SYR 37
Darian Mensah pass incomplete
Darian Mensah pass complete to Nate Sheppard for 8 yds to the SYR 29 for a 1ST down
Darian Mensah pass incomplete
Todd Pelino 45 yd FG MISSED
End of 2nd Quarter
Darian Mensah pass incomplete to Sahmir Hagans
Nate Sheppard run for 7 yds to the DUKE 32
(14:15) No Huddle-Shotgun Mensah,Darian pass complete short middle to Brown,Que'Sean caught at DUKE35, for 0 yards to the DUKE32 PENALTY DUKE Pass Interference 15 yards from DUKE32 to DUKE17. NO PLAY.
Darian Mensah pass complete to Que'Sean Brown for 7 yds to the DUKE 24
Kade Reynoldson punt for 46 yds, fair catch by Davien Kerr at the SYR 30
Rickie Collins pass complete to Johntay Cook for 13 yds Johntay Cook fumbled, recovered by DUKE Kimari Robinson
Darian Mensah sacked by Antoine Deslauriers for a loss of 15 yards to the DUKE 42
Nate Sheppard run for a loss of 4 yards to the DUKE 38
Darian Mensah pass complete to Sahmir Hagans for 11 yds to the DUKE 49
Kade Reynoldson punt for 46 yds, fair catch by Davien Kerr at the SYR 5
Yasin Willis run for 4 yds to the SYR 9
Yasin Willis run for a loss of 1 yard to the SYR 8
Rickie Collins run for 2 yds to the SYR 10
Jack Stonehouse punt for 40 yds, fair catch by Que'Sean Brown at the 50 yard line
Jack Stonehouse punt for 40 yds, fair catch by Que'Sean Brown at the DUKE 40
Anderson Castle run for 5 yds to the DUKE 45
Darian Mensah pass complete to Sahmir Hagans for 6 yds to the SYR 49 for a 1ST down
Anderson Castle run for a loss of 3 yards to the DUKE 48
Anderson Castle run for 7 yds to the SYR 45
Darian Mensah pass complete to Sahmir Hagans for 23 yds to the SYR 22 for a 1ST down
Nate Sheppard run for 10 yds to the SYR 12 for a 1ST down
Nate Sheppard run for 12 yds for a TD (Todd Pelino KICK)
Rickie Collins pass incomplete to Darrell Gill Jr.
Rickie Collins pass complete to Johntay Cook for 6 yds to the SYR 31
Rickie Collins pass complete to Yasin Willis for 5 yds to the SYR 36 for a 1ST down
Rickie Collins pass complete to Emanuel Ross for 20 yds to the DUKE 44 for a 1ST down
Rickie Collins pass complete to Emanuel Ross for 13 yds to the DUKE 31 for a 1ST down
Rickie Collins pass incomplete to Emanuel Ross
Yasin Willis run for 1 yd to the DUKE 30
Rickie Collins pass complete to Darrell Gill Jr. for 1 yd to the DUKE 29
Rickie Collins pass incomplete to Justus Ross-Simmons
Rickie Collins pass incomplete to Justus Ross-Simmons
Nate Sheppard run for 6 yds to the DUKE 35
Darian Mensah pass complete to Chase Tyler for 12 yds to the DUKE 47 for a 1ST down
Darian Mensah pass complete to Andrel Anthony for 6 yds to the SYR 47
Nate Sheppard run for 14 yds to the SYR 33 for a 1ST down
Nate Sheppard run for 9 yds to the SYR 24
Nate Sheppard run for 2 yds to the SYR 22 for a 1ST down
Nate Sheppard run for 2 yds to the SYR 20
Anderson Castle run for 7 yds to the SYR 13
Anderson Castle run for 13 yds for a TD (Todd Pelino KICK)
Rickie Collins pass complete to Justus Ross-Simmons for 13 yds to the SYR 38 for a 1ST down
Rickie Collins pass incomplete to Justus Ross-Simmons
(10:38) No Huddle-Shotgun Collins,Rickie pass complete short left to Ross-Simmons,Justus caught at SYRA46, for 0 yards to the SYRA38 PENALTY SYRA Pass Interference 15 yards from SYRA38 to SYRA23. NO PLAY.
Rickie Collins pass incomplete to Johntay Cook
Rickie Collins pass complete to Justus Ross-Simmons for 11 yds to the SYR 34
Jack Stonehouse punt for 56 yds, fair catch by Que'Sean Brown at the DUKE 10
Jack Stonehouse punt for 56 yds, fair catch by Que'Sean Brown at the DUKE 5
Travis Bates run for 4 yds to the DUKE 9
Travis Bates run for 1 yd to the DUKE 10
Travis Bates run for 39 yds to the DUKE 49 for a 1ST down
Travis Bates run for no gain to the DUKE 49
Henry Belin IV run for 4 yds to the SYR 47
Travis Bates run for no gain to the SYR 47
Kade Reynoldson punt for 32 yds, fair catch by Davien Kerr at the SYR 15
Rickie Collins pass complete to Dan Villari for 5 yds to the SYR 20
Rickie Collins pass complete to Emanuel Ross for 5 yds to the SYR 25 for a 1ST down
Jaden Hart run for 1 yd to the SYR 26
Rickie Collins pass complete to Emanuel Ross for 12 yds to the SYR 38 for a 1ST down
PENALTY DUKE Pass Interference 15 yards from SYRA38 to DUKE47, 1ST DOWN. NO PLAY.
Rickie Collins pass complete to Daunte Bacheyie for 6 yds to the DUKE 41
Rickie Collins pass complete to David Clement for 18 yds to the DUKE 23 for a 1ST down
Jaden Hart run for 4 yds to the DUKE 19
Rickie Collins pass complete to Jaden Hart for 4 yds to the DUKE 15
Rickie Collins pass complete to Emanuel Ross for 7 yds to the DUKE 8 for a 1ST down
Jaden Hart run for a loss of 1 yard to the DUKE 9
Rickie Collins run for 6 yds to the DUKE 3
Jaden Hart run for 1 yd to the DUKE 2
Rickie Collins pass incomplete to Jaden Hart
(00:00) Kneel down by Duke at DUKE01 for loss of 1 yard.