Overview
- Duke beat Tulane 17-3 on Saturday behind Nate Sheppard’s career-best 227 rushing yards and two touchdowns, with Sheppard carrying the load on 35 carries.
- The game at Wallace Wade Stadium was delayed about 90 minutes by severe weather and kicked off at roughly 5 p.m. ET after an earlier 3:30 p.m. start time was pushed back.
- Tulane opened the season without projected starter Jamauri McClure because of a foot injury and struggled offensively, totaling 258 yards, converting 3 of 14 third downs, and committing 15 penalties for 104 yards.
- Tulane replaced starter Zeon Chriss-Gremillion with Kadin Semonza at halftime after an ineffective first half, and Duke leaned on its run game while new Duke quarterback Walker Eget produced limited passing yardage.
- The loss leaves Will Hall’s team with immediate personnel and discipline problems to fix before hosting South Alabama and forces Duke to decide how to add a passing threat to complement Sheppard before its trip to Illinois.