Duke football gets one final nonconference tune-up Saturday before turning its attention to the heart of the ACC schedule.
The unbeaten Blue Devils host FCS opponent William & Mary at Wallace Wade Stadium as a 43.5-point favorite, renewing a series that has been dormant for more than 70 years. The programs last met in 1955 and shared Southern Conference membership during an earlier era of college football.
After Saturday, Duke gets a week off before diving into conference play for the rest of the regular season. The Blue Devils return from the bye with a challenging three-game stretch — at Georgia Tech, home against rival North Carolina and at Virginia.
First comes William & Mary, with Duke looking to extend its seven-game winning streak dating back to 2025 and head into the bye at 4-0. Here is everything to know about the matchup, including kickoff time, TV and radio information, stat comparisons, odds and what to watch.
🔄 Last Updated: September 23, 2026 11:03 am
🏟️ How to Watch Duke Football vs. William & Mary
Matchup: William & Mary (2-2, 1-2 Patriot League) at Duke (3-0, 1-0 ACC)
Date: Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Location: Wallace Wade Stadium (Durham, NC)
How to Watch/TV: ACC Network Extra
TV Announcers: Kevin Fitzgerald (play-by-play), Jeff Woody (analyst)
Duke Audio: WRAL News 96.5 FM (Durham), 99.3 FM (Raleigh), 620 AM The Buzz (Triangle) or the Blue Devil Sports Network on the Varsity Network App.
Duke Announcers: David Shumate (play-by-play), Dave Harding (analyst), John Roth (sideline)
📊 Game Odds
Spread: Duke -43.5
Total: 62.5 points
Moneyline: William & Mary +8000 | Duke not available
Lines via FanDuel. Odds will be refreshed periodically during the week. All are subject to change.
⏪ Last Time Out
Fordham 52, William & Mary 27 (Sept. 19) – Fordham rushed for 428 yards, averaging 9.3 yards per attempt, in handing the Tribe its second loss of the season. Winston Watkins threw for 286 yards and two scores, while Andrew King rushed for 122 yards and one score for William & Mary in the losing effort.
Duke 35, Stanford 7 (Sept. 19) – The reigning ACC champion Blue Devils got their title defense off to a winning start at home. Nate Sheppard rushed for two touchdowns and caught another TD pass to keep Duke undefeated on the young season.
🔍 What to Know: William & Mary at Duke
Duke still rolling after ACC title in 2025
The Blue Devils are off to a 3-0 start in 2026 and hold the longest active winning streak among all North Carolina NCAA football programs – seven in a row dating back to last November.
A win Saturday would match the longest win streak in the modern era for the Devils, set by the 2013 team coached by David Cutcliffe which won eight consecutive. Duke had a seven-game win streak from 2023-24 under Mike Elko and Manny Diaz.
Nate Sheppard for Heisman?
Former Duke quarterback Darian Mensah, now at Miami, is considered a front-runner for college football’s most prestigious award. But current Duke RB Nate Sheppard is starting to insert himself into the conversation.
Through three games, Sheppard has logged 590 yards from scrimmage and scored eight touchdowns. His 528 total rushing yards and 176.0 yards-per-game average both lead FBS football after Week 3. The next closest is Florida’s Jadan Baugh (458 total yards/152.7 yards-per-game).
“He might be the most productive player in college football right now and is becoming a household name before our eyes,” Hugh Straine from SI.com wrote. “Forget the Doak Walker Award; Sheppard could truly be a Heisman candidate.”
New conference not kind so far for William & Mary
Duke’s football opponent this week plays at the FCS level and moved from the CAA to the Patriot League for football this season. But life in its new conference has gotten off to a bumpy start. The Tribe is 1-2 in league play, with its lone victory coming in the opener against Villanova – another former CAA program that joined the Patriot League this season.
Walker Eget getting more comfortable as Duke’s starting quarterback
Credit Manny Diaz and the Blue Devils staff for adjusting roles and game plans around the players they have in the fold each season. Last year, Mensah was expected to be a dynamic playmaker at the quarterback position.
This year’s offense hasn’t asked Walker Eget to fill quite the same role. With Nate Sheppard powering the running game, Eget has largely been asked to distribute the football and avoid costly mistakes. So far, he’s filled the role well, passing for 539 yards, four TDs and one interception. He had three touchdown passes against Illinois in Week 2.
📊 Duke Football vs. William & Mary Stats and Trends
William & Mary by the numbers
- Points haven’t been the biggest problem: William & Mary is averaging a respectable 26.0 points per game, but opponents are scoring 35.8 per game.
- The Tribe defense has been giving up yards in bunches: Opponents are averaging 462.0 yards per game and 7.0 yards per play through four games. William & Mary is producing 336.3 yards and 5.0 yards per play.
- Opponents have had plenty of room to run: William & Mary foes have rushed for a staggering 281.3 yards per game, 7.0 yards per carry and 14 touchdowns. William & Mary has allowed 1,125 rushing yards in four games, including the 428 given up to Fordham last weekend.
- Meanwhile, running the ball has been much tougher for the Tribe: William & Mary averages 125.0 rushing yards per game and 3.2 yards per carry. Andrew King is the exception, averaging 6.1 yards per attempt with 318 yards and three TDs.
- QB Winston Watkins has been efficient: He’s completed 66.7 percent of his passes for 799 yards, four touchdowns and just one interception. He’s also William & Mary’s second-leading rusher with 117 yards and two TDs.
- William & Mary can create turnovers: The Tribe has picked off six passes in four games, while throwing only two interceptions. Cade Ellis leads the way with two picks.
- Protecting the quarterback has been another issue: William & Mary has surrendered 16 sacks while recording only six of its own. That’s four sacks allowed per game.
- Don’t overlook the kicker: Max Lipinski is 8-for-10 on field goals, including a 51-yarder, and already has 32 points this season.
Duke by the numbers
- Defense has set the tone: Duke is allowing just 12.3 points and 292.3 yards per game during its 3-0 start. The Blue Devils have surrendered only four touchdowns through three games, all against FBS opponents.
- Good luck running on these guys: Duke has allowed only 79.3 rushing yards per game and 3.0 yards per carry – and has yet to surrender a rushing touchdown this season.
- Nate Sheppard isn’t just doing damage on the ground: The Duke running back has rushed for 528 yards and five touchdowns, averaging 176.0 yards per game and 6.4 yards per carry. But he’s also caught nine passes for 62 yards and three touchdowns, giving him eight total TDs.
- Kade Reynoldson leads nation in punt average: The junior from Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia has punted 12 times for a 50.92 yards-per-punt average. No one else in FBS has an average better than 49.0.
- Duke has leaned heavily on the ground game: The Blue Devils are averaging 229.3 rushing yards per game, compared with 179.7 through the air. They’ve averaged 5.3 yards per rushing attempt.
- The defense gets off the field: Opponents are converting only 27.0 percent on third down and 14.3 percent on fourth down (1-for-7).
- Protecting the quarterback hasn’t been a problem: Duke has allowed just one sack in three games, while the Blue Devils’ defense has recorded seven.
Field flipper 😈 pic.twitter.com/fey6r2yOzW — Duke Football (@DukeFOOTBALL) September 22, 2026
📚 Series History
- William & Mary leads the all-time series 6-1, though the teams have not played for more than 70 years
- Duke’s only win came in the most “recent” meeting, a 47-7 victory in 1955.
- The Blue Devils are 1-1 against the Tribe in Durham.
- William & Mary won the first meeting 12-0 on Oct. 8, 1921.
- Three of William & Mary’s six victories were shutouts, including 21-0 in 1923 and 41-0 in 1925.
🔗 More North Carolina College Football Coverage
- Duke Football Schedule
- ACC Standings
- 2026 week-by-week schedule
- North Carolina college football scores
