Early look at Florida State football’s Week 8 opponent Duke

Florida State’s football team’s second ACC road game will be in Week 8 The Seminoles will play Duke on Friday night.

Also, the Seminoles will be coming off a bye week after their showdown against Clemson. Halfway through the season, the Seminoles will push to return to the ACC Championship.

For Duke, it’s a new era.

Duke went 8-5 last season. Mike Elko then left to be the head coach at Texas A&M. The Blue Devils hired Manny Diaz on Dec. 7, 2023. Duke lost some of its top players from the NFL Draft and the transfer portal.

Its biggest loss was quarterback Riley Leonard, who left to play for Notre Dame.

Presumably, if FSU goes unbeaten, it will be the second straight time the Seminoles start 6-0 entering the Duke game. Here’s what we need to know about Duke.

Who is Duke’s head coach

Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports

Manny Diaz will be entering his first season with the Duke Blue Devils. Diaz returns to the ACC after two seasons as a defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Penn State.

Diaz was a defensive coordinator for five teams in 13 seasons before landing his first head coaching job at the University of Miami.

He was let go after three seasons with the Hurricanes. He was 21-15 and 0-2 in bowl games.

Diaz, of course, began his coaching career as a student assistant coach at FSU under Bobby Bowden.

Diaz’s staff at Duke also features former Florida A&M coach – and former Quincy Shanks star quarterback – Willie Simmons.

FSU vs. Duke all-time record

22-0, FSU

Last meeting between FSU and Duke

FSU defeated Duke 38-20 last year on Oct. 21

Duke’s Top Players

Offense: QB Grayson Loftis, 1,006 yards, eight touchdowns, 4 INTs; RB Jaquez Moore, 674 yards, six touchdowns; WR Jordan Moore, 62 rec. 835 yards, eight touchdowns

Defense: Tre Freeman, 127 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks, one INT, three passes defended, one forced fumble; 48 tackles, 7.0…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/early-look-florida-state-footballs-213050622.html

Author : Tallahassee Democrat

Publish date : 2024-08-03 21:30:50

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