This one went according to plan. That doesn't always happen.
Everything we talked about all week showed up: We took away Walker Eget's easy throws, got up in the faces of Duke's receivers and let our skill-position talent create separation over four quarters.
That's exactly how it went: a 19-point lead in the fourth before a garbage-time backdoor cover from Manny Diaz and the Blue Devils. 36-25, and a step closer to Charlotte.
Levels to this game. Duke found that out.
And the running back screen people kept asking for showed up for a Javian Mallory touchdown. Maybe he's listening to the critics a little.
One complaint: the designed quarterback run on the goal line, for the second week in a row. Mensah took a huge hit that could have been targeting, and we could have lost our quarterback. He isn't a ball carrier, and he doesn't need to be. We have great tailbacks. Let's not outsmart ourselves.
High-pressure spot, against his old team, and he was as good as you can get. If he finishes these next two games like this, he's still in the Heisman race.
Mark Fletcher Jr. set Miami's career rushing touchdown record in this game, adding to the CFP records he already owns. We know what he is. He was a little nicked up but he should be fine.
Javian Mallory isn't just a good freshman or an exciting player for the future. He's one of the most dangerous backs in the country right now, in 2026. He's around 580 yards and nine touchdowns at more than seven yards a carry in November. He's 215-plus pounds with the footwork, the cuts, the vision and the patience to set up blocks. His pass blocking was better too.
The wrinkle to watch is the split-back formation, with one back on each side of Mensah. The defense doesn't know which way it's going. More important, it gets your best players on the field together.
When we get to the playoff, here's who I want standing next to Mensah on key downs: Fletcher, Mallory, Toney, Elija Lofton and Cooper Barkate. I'm not sure any team in the country can match that group. And when Fletcher doesn't have the ball, he's basically a fullback. He blocks like one and he's built like one.
When do we start talking about Cooper Barkate as an athlete? He made guys miss, accelerated away and was a far superior athlete to his old Duke teammates. That's legitimate speed, on top of the ball tracking, the hands and the routes we already knew about. He's a star with or without Toney, and when Mali's out, you see what he can do as the No. 1.
Dre Jacobs had a quiet day. We tried to get him deep a couple of times when he had the matchup and it didn't connect. But his tackle-breaking third-and-7 conversion early in the fourth was one of the sneaky big plays of the game, a physical play from a skinny guy.
Daylyn Upshaw made some tough, contested catches. He needed that after the drops, and it was good to see him going again.
But you don't put up 532 yards and 36 points without blocking somebody.
Right now you gotta call it what it is, a above-average college line and a below-average playoff line right now. It needs to get to average, and hopefully better, by the time the playoff starts.
Against a smaller Duke team, the line started leaning on them in the fourth quarter, displacing people and popping big runs. Watch Mallory's long touchdown when he cut left. Ben Congdon was blocking about three guys, SJ Alofaituli knocked his man back right off the ball and Ryan Rodriguez held it together. The interior engulfed Duke.
Eget threw for 195 yards, one touchdown and one interception, and had another interception dropped. How many veteran quarterbacks have had career days against us? This one didn't. The corners got in receivers' faces, won the one-on-ones and made Eget hold the ball, just like we said they had to.
Xavier Lucas started with a pass breakup and later made a great interception downfield. The one blemish was the deep ball he gave up with not the best effort on the tackle, and luckily it came back for an illegal man downfield. Take that away and it was a strong day for the corners.
Bryce Fitzgerald at free safety makes a huge difference. He ran the show back there and made a nice tackle on a Sheppard screen. He did drop an interception. When he's really rolling, that one's going the other way.
The safeties were a mixed bag. With Zechariah Poyser out (hopefully he's back next week), Dylan Day and JJ Dunnigan played a lot, and you get what comes with them: aggressive play, some good tackles and some plays given up.
Nate Sheppard is the best running back in America. He showed he's not a system guy. He's special. Duke ran for about 130 yards, which isn't bad, but at 7.6 a carry, which is. There were a few explosives. We said they'd empty the bag, and Sheppard threw a pass. We did just enough.
The linebackers are the same story as usual. Their weakness is lateral quickness, and Sheppard getting to the edge and playing in space attacks exactly that.
Keep it in perspective, though. Duke designed its quick game to beat the rush, which is why there were no big plays downfield. You held a veteran quarterback under 200 yards and outgained Duke by almost 200. The threat of the rush did its job.
One bright spot: Armondo Blount had a much better game after a bad day at Notre Dame. He caused some havoc and was flat-out held three times.
The goal-line stand was there too, but we lined up offside twice. Without that, it changes the stats and the feel of the finish.
We are back Monday with the full breakdown on the CanesInsight YouTube channel. Subscribe and turn on notifications.
Everything we talked about all week showed up: We took away Walker Eget's easy throws, got up in the faces of Duke's receivers and let our skill-position talent create separation over four quarters.
That's exactly how it went: a 19-point lead in the fourth before a garbage-time backdoor cover from Manny Diaz and the Blue Devils. 36-25, and a step closer to Charlotte.
Levels to this game. Duke found that out.
Dawson called a good game
We outgained Duke 532 to 341 and scored 36 points without the best player in the country. Nitpick individual calls if you want, but the results are the results. Give Shannon Dawson credit.And the running back screen people kept asking for showed up for a Javian Mallory touchdown. Maybe he's listening to the critics a little.
One complaint: the designed quarterback run on the goal line, for the second week in a row. Mensah took a huge hit that could have been targeting, and we could have lost our quarterback. He isn't a ball carrier, and he doesn't need to be. We have great tailbacks. Let's not outsmart ourselves.
Mensah is in Cam Ward mode
He's playing at a Heisman level, and he's carrying this offense without Toney. The decision-making is basically flawless week after week, and so is the accuracy. What's new is the movement. He's more efficient in the pocket, he isn't drifting backward and he's creating. That's Cam Ward.High-pressure spot, against his old team, and he was as good as you can get. If he finishes these next two games like this, he's still in the Heisman race.
The best backfield in America
We talk about Mensah. We talk about Mali. Here's what we need to start saying: this is the best backfield in the country.Mark Fletcher Jr. set Miami's career rushing touchdown record in this game, adding to the CFP records he already owns. We know what he is. He was a little nicked up but he should be fine.
Javian Mallory isn't just a good freshman or an exciting player for the future. He's one of the most dangerous backs in the country right now, in 2026. He's around 580 yards and nine touchdowns at more than seven yards a carry in November. He's 215-plus pounds with the footwork, the cuts, the vision and the patience to set up blocks. His pass blocking was better too.
The wrinkle to watch is the split-back formation, with one back on each side of Mensah. The defense doesn't know which way it's going. More important, it gets your best players on the field together.
When we get to the playoff, here's who I want standing next to Mensah on key downs: Fletcher, Mallory, Toney, Elija Lofton and Cooper Barkate. I'm not sure any team in the country can match that group. And when Fletcher doesn't have the ball, he's basically a fullback. He blocks like one and he's built like one.
Barkate out-athleted everybody
Eight catches, 134 yards, a long of 40.When do we start talking about Cooper Barkate as an athlete? He made guys miss, accelerated away and was a far superior athlete to his old Duke teammates. That's legitimate speed, on top of the ball tracking, the hands and the routes we already knew about. He's a star with or without Toney, and when Mali's out, you see what he can do as the No. 1.
Dre Jacobs had a quiet day. We tried to get him deep a couple of times when he had the matchup and it didn't connect. But his tackle-breaking third-and-7 conversion early in the fourth was one of the sneaky big plays of the game, a physical play from a skinny guy.
Daylyn Upshaw made some tough, contested catches. He needed that after the drops, and it was good to see him going again.
The offensive line: not bad, not a playoff line yet
Up and down. There were missed blocks inside from the guards. Samson Okunlola and Matthew McCoy gave too much ground a few times, and that compression on the outside made Mensah bail on some pockets.But you don't put up 532 yards and 36 points without blocking somebody.
Right now you gotta call it what it is, a above-average college line and a below-average playoff line right now. It needs to get to average, and hopefully better, by the time the playoff starts.
Against a smaller Duke team, the line started leaning on them in the fourth quarter, displacing people and popping big runs. Watch Mallory's long touchdown when he cut left. Ben Congdon was blocking about three guys, SJ Alofaituli knocked his man back right off the ball and Ryan Rodriguez held it together. The interior engulfed Duke.
Defense: not a leap, but a step
Overall, a positive performance. It wasn't an A-plus or a night-and-day change, but it was a step in the right direction.Eget threw for 195 yards, one touchdown and one interception, and had another interception dropped. How many veteran quarterbacks have had career days against us? This one didn't. The corners got in receivers' faces, won the one-on-ones and made Eget hold the ball, just like we said they had to.
Xavier Lucas started with a pass breakup and later made a great interception downfield. The one blemish was the deep ball he gave up with not the best effort on the tackle, and luckily it came back for an illegal man downfield. Take that away and it was a strong day for the corners.
Bryce Fitzgerald at free safety makes a huge difference. He ran the show back there and made a nice tackle on a Sheppard screen. He did drop an interception. When he's really rolling, that one's going the other way.
The safeties were a mixed bag. With Zechariah Poyser out (hopefully he's back next week), Dylan Day and JJ Dunnigan played a lot, and you get what comes with them: aggressive play, some good tackles and some plays given up.
Nate Sheppard is the best running back in America. He showed he's not a system guy. He's special. Duke ran for about 130 yards, which isn't bad, but at 7.6 a carry, which is. There were a few explosives. We said they'd empty the bag, and Sheppard threw a pass. We did just enough.
The linebackers are the same story as usual. Their weakness is lateral quickness, and Sheppard getting to the edge and playing in space attacks exactly that.
The pass rush still isn't home
No sacks. Very few pressures. Eget was mostly unbothered, and that's a problem. We have high expectations for this defensive line.Keep it in perspective, though. Duke designed its quick game to beat the rush, which is why there were no big plays downfield. You held a veteran quarterback under 200 yards and outgained Duke by almost 200. The threat of the rush did its job.
One bright spot: Armondo Blount had a much better game after a bad day at Notre Dame. He caused some havoc and was flat-out held three times.
The goal-line stand was there too, but we lined up offside twice. Without that, it changes the stats and the feel of the finish.
We are back Monday with the full breakdown on the CanesInsight YouTube channel. Subscribe and turn on notifications.
