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Duke Blue Devils vs Illinois Fighting Illini

College Football
Duke
2-0
31-27
Final
Illinois
1-1
Gies Memorial Stadium

Drive chart

Drives

  • End of Game
  • Downs
  • Punt
  • Interception
  • Punt
  • Downs
Team1234T
DUKE7147331
ILL10143027

Who won: Duke 31-27

The Duke Blue Devils beat the Illinois Fighting Illini 31-27 on Saturday, September 12, 2026 at Gies Memorial Stadium. Walker Eget led the Duke in passing yards (15/21, 206 YDS, 3 TD). Katin Houser led the Illinois in passing yards (24/35, 271 YDS, 3 TD, 1 INT).

Every player rated

Chirp Rating, 3.0 to 10.0
  1. 19.2Collin Dixon
  2. 29.1Nate Sheppard
  3. 37.8Walker Eget
  4. 47.6Katin Houser
  5. 57.2Jonah Burton
  6. 67.0Andrew Pellicciotta
  7. 77.0Will Holmes
  8. 86.8Evan Smith
  9. 96.6Nick Morris Jr.
  10. 106.6Kyon Loud
  11. 116.5Cosme Salas
  12. 126.5Mac Resetich

Team stats

DUKEILL
191st Downs23
2-93rd down efficiency5-12
2-24th down efficiency1-3
376Total Yards382
206Passing271
15/22Comp/Att24/36
9.4Yards per pass7.5
170Rushing111
35Rushing Attempts32
4.9Yards per rush3.5
11-112Penalties7-71
0Turnovers1
0Fumbles lost0
0Interceptions thrown1
26:46Possession33:14

Player of the game

Collin Dixon

ILL · 11 REC, 166 YDS, 3 TD

9.2

Win probability

100%DUKE final
DUKEILL

Tap or hover the line to see the play. Dots mark the biggest swings.

Play by play

  1. Q4 0:00DUK

    End of game

    End of 4th quarter.

  2. Q4 0:40DUK

    Stuffed for a loss of 5

    Kneel down by Duke at ILL38 for loss of 5 yards

    2nd & 16 · 2nd & 16 at ILL 33

  3. Q4 0:41DUK
    FLAG

    Flag: penalty

    PENALTY DUKE False Start (#72 M.Craycraft) 5 yards from ILL28 to ILL33. NO PLAY

    2nd & 11 · 2nd & 11 at ILL 28

  4. Q4 1:17DUK

    Stuffed for a loss of 1

    Kneel down by Duke at ILL28 for loss of 1 yard

    1st & 10 · 1st & 10 at ILL 27

  5. Q4 1:49DUK

    Rush

    Shotgun #20 N.Sheppard rush middle for 2 yards gain to the ILL27 (#7 M.Bailey; #26 I.Kante), 1ST DOWN

    4th & 1 at ILL 29

  6. Q4 1:54ILL

    Timeout

    Timeout Illinois, clock 01:54

  7. Q4 1:54Nate Sheppard

    2 yd run

    Shotgun #20 N.Sheppard rush middle for 2 yards gain to the ILL29 (#24 W.Holmes)

    N. Sheppard · 24 CAR, 147 YDS · 3rd & 3 · 3rd & 3 at ILL 31

  8. Q4 2:00DUK

    Timeout

    Timeout Duke, clock 02:00

  9. Q4 2:01Nate Sheppard

    4 yd run

    Shotgun #20 N.Sheppard rush left for 4 yards gain to the ILL31 (#96 D.Prater; #7 M.Bailey)

    N. Sheppard · 24 CAR, 147 YDS · 2nd & 7 · 2nd & 7 at ILL 35

  10. Q4 2:48DUK

    Rush

    Shotgun #20 N.Sheppard rush middle for 3 yards gain to the ILL35 (#1 X.Scott; #6 J.Clarke)

    1st & 10 at ILL 38

  11. Q4 2:54ILL

    Pass incompletion

    Shotgun #4 K.Houser pass incomplete short right to #17 C.Dixon thrown to ILL40 broken up by #1 K.Loud, TURNOVER ON DOWNS

    4th & 4 at ILL 38

  12. Q4 3:37Ca'Lil Valentine

    Stuffed for a loss of 1

    #5 C.Valentine rush right for 1 yard loss to the ILL38 (#10 T.Reed)

    C. Valentine · 18 CAR, 56 YDS · 3rd & 3 · 3rd & 3 at ILL 39

  13. Q4 4:21ILL

    Rush

    Shotgun #5 C.Valentine rush middle for 1 yard gain to the ILL39 (#12 B.Davis)

    2nd & 4 at ILL 38

  14. Q4 4:57Ca'Lil Valentine

    6 yd run

    Shotgun #5 C.Valentine rush middle for 6 yards gain to the ILL38 (#35 A.Pellicciotta)

    C. Valentine · 18 CAR, 56 YDS · 1st & 10 · 1st & 10 at ILL 32

  15. Q4 5:30Katin Houser

    11 yd completion to H. Clement

    Shotgun #4 K.Houser pass complete short left to #13 H.Clement caught at ILL29, for 11 yards to the ILL32 (#4 E.Smith), 1ST DOWN

    K. Houser · 24/35, 271 YDS · 2nd & 9 · 2nd & 9 at ILL 21

  16. Q4 6:06Ca'Lil Valentine

    1 yd run

    Shotgun #5 C.Valentine rush middle for 1 yard gain to the ILL21 (#34 L.Mergott; #95 P.Watson)

    C. Valentine · 18 CAR, 56 YDS · 1st & 10 · 1st & 10 at ILL 20

  17. Q4 6:13Kade Reynoldson

    Punt, 0 yds

    #41 K.Reynoldson punt 44 yards to the ILL00, Touchback

    K. Reynoldson · 4th & 9 · 4th & 9 at ILL 44

  18. Q4 6:21Dan Mahan

    Incomplete to N. Sheppard

    Shotgun #10 D.Mahan pass incomplete short right to #20 N.Sheppard thrown to ILL49

    D. Mahan · 0/1, 0 YDS · 3rd & 9 · 3rd & 9 at ILL 44

  19. Q4 6:45Walker Eget

    Fumble! Turnover

    Shotgun #2 W.Eget sacked for loss of 2 yards to the ILL44 (#24 W.Holmes), fumble by #2 W.Eget recovered by DUKE #15 J.Taylor at ILL44, End Of Play. #2 W.Eget injured on the play

    W. Eget · 15/21, 206 YDS · 2nd & 7 · 2nd & 7 at ILL 42

  20. Q4 6:58ILL

    Timeout

    Timeout Illinois, clock 06:58

  21. Q4 7:15Nate Sheppard

    3 yd run

    Shotgun #20 N.Sheppard rush middle for 3 yards gain to the ILL42 (#96 D.Prater). #43 J.Barna injured on the play

    N. Sheppard · 24 CAR, 147 YDS · 1st & 10 · 1st & 10 at ILL 45

  22. Q4 7:21Katin Houser
    TO

    Picked off

    Shotgun #4 K.Houser pass intercepted by #4 E.Smith at DUKE36 #4 E.Smith return 19 yards to the ILL45, out of bounds at ILL45

    K. Houser · 24/35, 271 YDS · 3rd & 8 · 3rd & 8 at ILL 47

  23. Q4 7:30Katin Houser

    Incomplete to K. Feagin

    Shotgun #4 K.Houser pass incomplete short left to #83 K.Feagin thrown to DUKE43 broken up by #42 K.Johnson

    K. Houser · 24/35, 271 YDS · 2nd & 8 · 2nd & 8 at ILL 47

  24. Q4 8:08ILL

    Rush

    Shotgun #5 C.Valentine rush middle for 2 yards gain to the ILL47 (#35 A.Pellicciotta)

    1st & 10 at ILL 45

  25. Q4 8:14Kade Reynoldson

    Punt, 14 yds

    #41 K.Reynoldson punt 51 yards to the ILL31 #0 M.Resetich return 14 yards to the ILL45 (#10 T.Reed; #42 K.Johnson)

    K. Reynoldson · 4th & 10 · 4th & 10 at DUKE 18

Leaders

DUKEILL
Passing Yards
Walker Eget
15/21, 206 YDS, 3 TD
Katin Houser
24/35, 271 YDS, 3 TD, 1 INT
Rushing Yards
Nate Sheppard
24 CAR, 147 YDS, 1 TD
Ca'Lil Valentine
18 CAR, 56 YDS
Receiving Yards
Jonah Burton
4 REC, 76 YDS, 1 TD
Collin Dixon
11 REC, 166 YDS, 3 TD
Sacks
-
Will Holmes
1
Tackles
Andrew Pellicciotta
11
Juice Clarke
6

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