Duke football starts season unranked in preseason AP Poll
Duke football received zero votes in the 2026 preseason AP Poll despite being the reigning ACC champions.
The 2026 preseason AP Poll was released on Monday, continuing the trend of low expectations for Duke football. Head coach Manny Diaz's team did not earn a single vote from the voters and were not ranked in the top 25. The departure of starting quarterback Darian Mensah and top receiver Cooper Barkate, who both left for ACC rival Miami, has raised concerns about the team's recovery.
The only opponent from the top 25 Duke will face is the No. 7 Miami Hurricanes, who received one first-place vote. While SMU (19th) and Louisville (24th) are part of the preseason top 25, Duke's schedule does not include these two. Clemson, coming to Wallace Wade Stadium on Nov. 20, is ranked 23rd with 112 votes. Other teams receiving votes include Ohio State, Oregon, Georgia, Notre Dame, Texas, Indiana, and Texas A&M, among others.
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