First look: What to know about Duke’s ACC football road game at Syracuse
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Duke lost linebacker Nick Morris Jr. during its 45-33 win over N.C. State.
- Syracuse upset Clemson 34-21 but lost quarterback Steve Angeli to injury.
- Both teams must adjust quickly before Saturday’s ACC matchup in Syracuse.
Both Duke and Syracuse had big, emotional victories Saturday.
And big, emotional injuries.
The Blue Devils surged past N.C. State in their ACC opener, taking a 45-33 win while losing middle linebacker Nick Morris, Jr.
The Orange went into Clemson and shocked the Tigers in Death Valley, winning 34-21 but losing quarterback Steve Angeli.
Duke and Syracuse face off this Saturday at the JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse, New York, both after what will be a week of practice preparing replacements at key positions. Morris was the quarterback of the Duke defense, so to speak, and Angeli a key portal acquisition for the Orange who went into the Clemson game as the national leader in passing yards with 1,072.
Angeli, who transferred from Notre Dame, had thrown for 244 yards and two scores Saturday when he suffered a noncontact injury to his left foot in the third quarter. After scrambling and falling, he was unable to put any weight on the foot and was soon on crutches and later seen in a walking boot.
Rickie Collins, a transfer from LSU, finished out the game for the Orange (3-1, 1-0 ACC) and could be the starter Saturday against Duke as Orange coach Fran Brown told the media Angeli might be gone a “couple of weeks.”
Collins, a 6-2 sophomore, was deemed the starting quarterback after spring practice, but Angeli transferred into the school two weeks after spring ball and beat out Collins in fall camp.
At Duke, Devils coach Manny Diaz said he did not have an update on Morris after the win over the Pack. Morris’ leg injury in the first quarter appeared serious, and he was carted off the field at Wallace Wade Stadium after his teammates had surrounded him to offer support.
And then won for him.
“That was their sentiments,” Diaz said of the players. “It was hard to see Nick go down. He’s such an important player for us and was playing at such a high level. I think we’re all heartbroken for him.”
Luke Mergott, a redshirt sophomore, took over in the middle for Morris and made plays. His hard rush on State quarterback C.J. Bailey late in the first half forced the rushed throw that linebacker Tre Freeman picked off and ran back 67 yards to set up the Devils’ go-ahead score.
Key game matchup: Can Mensah be mistake-free again
Looking at the statistics, Syracuse ranks last in the ACC in total defense, allowing 455 yards a game. The Orange is 16th in pass defense (296.25 yards) and has up an ACC-worst 10 touchdown passes.
Duke’s Darian Mensah, in contrast, is second to Angeli in total passing yards (1,305) and has an ACC-best 11 touchdown throws. His efficiency rating: 163.9, third in the ACC.
Unless the Orange can generate pressure on Mensah, the yards and the points could come for Duke. That would pressure the Orange offense to keep pace, and with the backup quarterback – albeit a good one – running it.
Mensah had a very clean, workmanlike game against the Wolfpack, finishing 19-of-28 throwing for 269 yards and three scores. No interceptions, no fumbles. That’s winning efficiency.
Orange impact players: Gill, Chestnut
Wideout Darrell Gill Jr. could present a problem for the Devils. His 22.1-yard average on 14 receptions is second only to Florida State’s Duce Robinson’s 24.9 yards per catch, and he has three TDs. His 22-yard scoring pass from Angeli on Saturday gave the Orange a 24-7 lead late in the opening half and capped an 80-yard drive.
Giil had a strong finishing kick to the 2024 season, with 235 receiving yards in the last three games and had 31 catches for 570 yards for the year.
Redshirt senior safety Duce Chestnut is third on the Orange in tackles with 21 after finishing second last season with a career-high 62. Chestnut was the ACC’s runner-up for defensive rookie of the year as a freshman cornerback in 2021, later transferred to LSU and was redshirted after four games in 2023. He then returned to Syracuse in 2024 and was moved to safety.
Vegas betting odds
The FanDuel Sportsbook’s early odds have Duke a 5.5-point favorite and the over/under set at 59.5 points. The moneyline: Duke -205 and Syracuse +168.
Duke vs Syracuse game info
Duke (2-2, 1-0 ACC) vs Syracuse (3-1, 1-0).
When: Saturday, noon
Where: JMA Wireless Dome, Syracuse, New York.
TV: ACC Network.
Streaming: fubo TV, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, DIRECTV Stream, Sling TV.
Series history: Duke and Syracuse have played just five times, the Devils winning four of five. Syracuse’s win came in 2019, a 49-6 victory in Durham. Duke won the next year, 38-24, at Syracuse as running backs Deon Jackson and Mataeo Durant combined for 332 yards rushing and two TDs.
This story was originally published September 22, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
