Notre Dame Opponent Preview: #17 Duke Blue Devils

Notre Dame (4-1) will need to rebound quickly after its loss to Ohio State, as the Fighting Irish travel to Durham, N.C. to take on the 17th-ranked Duke Blue Devils.

Where: Wallace Wade Stadium (Durham, N.C.)
When: Saturday - September 30th
Time: 7:30 PM ET
Network: ABC
Line: Notre Dame -5.5, O/U: 52.5

Let's take a first glance look at the Duke Blue Devils.

HEAD COACH - Mike Elko

Duke Record: 13-4 overall, 6-3 ACC (2nd season)

Elko is a coach Notre Dame fans are very familiar with. He played an instrumental role in turning the Irish around after its 4-8 disaster. Elko was hired the following season and oversaw an immediate overhaul and turn around for the Irish defense. The foundation he laid, which included bringing in Clark Lea, began a period where Notre Dame's success was built around its defense. Elko left after just one season, but his impact was felt for years.

Elko went to Texas A&M and took over a defense that ranked 87th in scoring defense the year before his arrival. The Aggies immediately jumped up to 47th the next season, and went from 78th to 32nd in total defense. By his fourth season, Texas A&M had the nation's 3rd best scoring defense (15.9 PPG). That helped vault Elko to the head coach position at Duke.

Duke went 3-9 in the season prior to Elko's arrival, and the Blue Devils had 7 losses of 25 points or greater. The average margin of defeat was 28.5 points per game as the Blue Devils ranked 127th in scoring defense. Elko made an immediate impact, as Duke went 9-4 in Elko's first season in charge. Their four losses were by a combined 16 points. Duke is off to a 4-0 start in 2023, including a 28-7 season opening win over Clemson.

Offensive Coordinator: Kevin Johns (2nd season)
Co-Defensive Coordinator: Jess Simpson (2nd season)
Co-Defensive Coordinator: Tyler Santucci (2nd season)

2023 SCHEDULE/RESULTS (4-0)

Clemson - Won 28-7
Lafayette - Won 42-7
Northwestern - Won 38-14
at UConn - Won 41-7
Notre Dame
NC State
at Florida State
at Louisville
Wake Forest
at North Carolina
at Virginia
Pittsburgh

2023 STATISTICAL OVERVIEW

2023 STATISTICAL LEADERS

Rushing: RB Jordan Waters - 39 att., 258 yards, 6.6 YPC, 7 TD; QB Riley Leonard - 29 att., 238 yards, 8.2 YPC, 4 TD; RB Jaquez Moore - 35 att., 184 yards, 5.3 YPC, 2 TD

Passing: QB Riley Leonard - 67 com., 99 att., 67.7%, 778 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT, 140.37 rating

Receiving: WR Jalon Calhoun - 20 rec., 258 yards, 12.9 YPC, 1 TD; WR Jordan Moore - 20 rec., 246 yards, 12.3 YPC, 2 TD; WR Sahmir Hagans - 11 rec., 101 yards, 9.2 YPC, 0 TD; TE Nicky Dalmolin - 9 rec., 108 yards, 12.0 YPC, 0 TD

Tackles: CB Chandler Rivers - 25; S Jaylen Stinson - 24; LB Tre Freeman - 21; LB Dorian Mausi - 21; DB Brandon Johnson - 19; LB Nick Morris - 19; S Jeremiah Lewis - 12; DT Aeneas Peebles - 12; DT DeWayne Carter - 12; S Terry Moore - 10

Tackles For Loss: DB Brandon Johnson - 4.5; DT Aeneas Peebles - 3.5; DE Anthony Nelson - 2.0; DE Ryan Smith - 2.0; DE Wesley Williams - 2.0

Sacks: DT Aeneas Peebles - 1.5; DE R.J. Oben - 1.5; DT Aaron Hall - 1.5

Interceptions: CB Myles Jones - 2; CB Joshua Pickett - 1; LB Dorian Mausi - 1

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Irish Breakdown Content

2023 Scholarship Chart
2023 Football Schedule

Notre Dame 2024 Scholarship Offers

2024 Commit Rankings - Offense
2024 Commit Rankings - Defense

2023 Recruiting Class Grades - Offense
2023 Recruiting Class Grades - Defense

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