After a dominant 17-3 win over Tulane, the Duke Blue Devils will face Illinois for their second matchup this Saturday, September 12, at 3:30 p.m. ET. The Fighting Illini also won their first game against UAB with 42-23. For this game, heading to Champaign to meet away will be challenging for the Blue Devils because the opponent previously captured a dominant 45-19 victory in 2025 on Duke’s home turf, and hold a slight 2-1 edge in their three historical meetings.

Stopping star RB Nate Sheppard—who exploded for 227 rushing yards last week—will be the top priority for the Illini defense. Similarly, Illinois QB Katin Houser who made a brilliant debut against UAB, throwing for 182 yards and 3 touchdowns, will be the main concern of Duke head coach Manny Diaz who is known for dialing up aggressive pressure packages.

Game Details

• Date: Saturday, September 12, 2026
• Time: 3:30 pm ET
• Location: Gies Memorial Stadium, Champaign, IL
• TV Channel: FS1