Overview
- Duke beat Illinois 31-27 in Champaign on Saturday, completing a comeback that saw the Blue Devils hold the Fighting Illini scoreless in the fourth quarter.
- Nate Sheppard paced the offense with 147 rushing yards, five catches for 41 yards, three total touchdowns and a second-quarter fake punt that extended a scoring drive.
- Quarterback Walker Eget was 15 of 21 for 206 yards and three touchdowns, briefly exited with a right‑leg injury on a fourth‑quarter sack and returned to finish the game.
- Illinois countered with big passing numbers from Katin Houser (24-of-35, 271 yards, three TDs) and Collin Dixon (11 catches, 166 yards, three TDs), but a crucial fourth‑quarter interception swung momentum to Duke and reports differ on whether Eric Smith or Evan Smith made the play.
- The win improves Duke to 2-0, keeps the defending ACC champion's early momentum intact despite 11 penalties and poor third‑down marks, and sends the Blue Devils home to face Stanford next week.