What Duke’s Loss to Georgia Tech Means for ACC Race

Duke needed a big win on Saturday, not only to put the conference on notice, but to take advantadge of another team's misstep.

The Blue Devils wasted an opportunity to jump into the next tier within the ACC, falling 27-18 at home to now No. 7 Georgia Tech. A back-and-forth game got away from the Blue Devils in the fourth quarter after Yellow Jackets quarterback Haynes King turned on the jets for a 28-yard touchdown run as part of a 120-yard rushing day.

Oct 18, 2025; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils quarterback Darian Mensah (10) throws the ball during the first half of the game against Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Wallace Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images | Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images

Darian Mensah, however, shone for the Blue Devils, throwing for 373 yards and two scores, establishing himself among the upper tier of quarterbacks in the country.

The loss was a missed opportunity to not only take down an undefeated team in the ACC and rise toward the top of the standings, but it was also a chance to separate themselves from Miami, which fell for the first time this season on Friday night.

Oct 21, 2017; Durham, NC, USA; The Duke Blue Devils and ACC logo on the pylon during the game against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Wallace Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-Imagn Images | Jeremy Brevard-Imagn Images

Duke's Path to the Top

Miami's 24-21 loss at home to Louisville puts Duke in a prime position to snag one of the top ACC spots and clear a path to the conference title game. The schedule for the Blue Devils gets much better after the upcoming bye week.

The two biggest hurdles remaining on the schedule for Duke are a visit with a Clemson team with four losses already, and a November home matchup with No. 16 Virginia, which has stumbled against both Louisville and Washington State in its past two games.

Oct 18, 2025; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach Manny Diaz reacts during the second half of the game against Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Wallace Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images | Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images

College football produces wild and unexpected results every week, but it is still difficult to see how Duke finds its way to Charlotte now. Miami has played two fewer conference games than the Blue Devils to this point, but still has to face SMU, which is also in front of Duke in the standings.

Even if Duke were to win out, the team would need some help from teams in front of them losing matchups they will be favored in.

Nov 30, 2024; Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach Manny Diaz leads his team onto the field against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons during the first half at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images | Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

All in all, Saturday was a must-win game, and the loss might have been a death blow to the program's hopes to bring home a conference title for the first time since 1989, and potentially back into a spot in the College Football Playoff.

Sep 30, 2023; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke helmet of Duke Blue Devils cornerback Chandler Rivers (0) with its slogan during the second half against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Wallace Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images | Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Duke will have another bye week before facing Clemson on the road. Despite the struggles from the Tigers this season, the roster still has plenty of talent and should not be overlooked as the the Blue Devils look to right the ship.

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