Duke Blue Devils vs. Illinois Fighting Illini

Sep 12, 2026

FINAL

Box Score

	1	2	3	4	T
DUKE	7	14	7	3	31
ILL	10	14	3	0	27

Game Recap

Nate Sheppard scores 3 TDs, Duke rallies to beat Illinois 31-27 for its sixth straight win. Nate Sheppard ran for 147 yards and a touchdown and caught two touchdown passes to lead Duke to a come-from-behind 31-27 victory Saturday over Illinois.

Scoring Summary

DUKEILL

Q110:23Collin Dixon 13 Yd pass from Katin Houser (Ethan Moczulski Kick).07
Q18:28Jonah Burton 12 Yd pass from Walker Eget (Cosme Salas Kick).77
Q13:41Ethan Moczulski 51 Yd Field Goal.710
Q212:47Collin Dixon 40 Yd pass from Katin Houser (Ethan Moczulski Kick).717
Q27:05Nate Sheppard 2 Yd Run (Cosme Salas Kick).1417
Q21:48Collin Dixon 2 Yd pass from Katin Houser (Ethan Moczulski Kick).1424
Q20:38Nate Sheppard 7 Yd pass from Walker Eget (Cosme Salas Kick).2124
Q310:47Nate Sheppard 3 Yd pass from Walker Eget (Cosme Salas Kick).2824
Q35:08Ethan Moczulski 47 Yd Field Goal.2827
Q413:53Cosme Salas 39 Yd Field Goal.3127

Game Drives

1st Quarter

Touchdown — 8 plays, 75 yards, 4:37
07
Touchdown — 4 plays, 75 yards, 1:55
77
Field Goal — 11 plays, 43 yards, 4:47
710
Punt — 3 plays, 8 yards, 2:01
710

2nd Quarter

Touchdown — 8 plays, 62 yards, 3:49
717
Touchdown — 12 plays, 75 yards, 5:42
1417
Touchdown — 11 plays, 75 yards, 5:17
1424
Touchdown — 8 plays, 75 yards, 1:10
2124
Missed FG — 5 plays, 21 yards, 0:32
2124

3rd Quarter

Touchdown — 9 plays, 75 yards, 4:13
2824
Field Goal — 11 plays, 46 yards, 5:39
2827

4th Quarter

Field Goal — 10 plays, 53 yards, 6:15
3127
Downs — 8 plays, 57 yards, 4:15
3127
Punt — 3 plays, 0 yards, 1:24
3127
Interception — 3 plays, 2 yards, 0:53
3127
Punt — 3 plays, 1 yard, 1:08
3127
Downs — 6 plays, 18 yards, 3:19
3127
End of Game — 6 plays, 0 yards, 2:54
3127

Team Stats

DUKE

ILL

31Points27

376Total Yards382

206Pass Yards271

170Rush Yards111

26:46Time of Possession33:14

19First Downs23

4Touchdowns3

1(1)Field Goals(Attempts)2(3)

0Turnovers1

112Penalty Yards71

Game Details

Saturday, September 12, 2026 · 3:30 PM

Alumni Memorial Field at Foster Stadium · Lexington, VA

attendance: 60,670 (606.7%)

spread: ILL -6

over/under: 51.5