Duke opened its 2026 college football season with a dominant 17-3 victory over Tulane, in which Blue Devils running back Nate Sheppard stole the show, rushing for 227 yards and two touchdowns on 35 attempts.
Despite Manny Diaz’s team controlling the game against a Green Wave squad that, albeit almost brand new, also came off a spot in the College Football Playoff last season, the Blue Devils received just four votes in this week’s US LBM Coaches Poll, two fewer than they received in the preseason poll.
The Blue Devils will have an opportunity to show why they deserve more votes this weekend as they travel to Champaign to take on Illinois, which is just outside the top 25 with 45 votes, putting the Fighting Illini at 27th.
Only two of Duke’s opponents
– Miami at No. 7 and Virginia at No. 25 – are currently ranked in the top 25.
Here is the complete US LBM Coaches Poll for Sept. 8, 2026:
Schools Dropped Out
No. 23 Clemson;
Others Receiving Votes
Louisville 125; Illinois 45; Boise State 43; Arizona 42; South Carolina 36; Memphis 24; Auburn 19; Vanderbilt 17; Pittsburgh 14; Virginia Tech 11; Nebraska 11; Arizona State 11; Minnesota 9; Western Michigan 7; New Mexico 7; North Dakota State 6; Kansas State 6; Navy 5; UCLA 4; Duke 4; UNLV 3; Clemson 3; San Diego State 2; North Carolina 2; Colorado 1
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This article originally appeared on Duke Wire: Duke continues to receive votes in latest US LBM Coaches Poll
