Disrespected Champs: Tulane, Duke Meet in Rare Title Showdown
Source: Nola Sports. Casualplayhub News adds summary, context, and editorial framing while linking back to the original report.
In a rare non-conference clash of reigning league champions, Tulane and Duke will take the field in Durham, North Carolina, on Saturday afternoon, each carrying a chip on their shoulder. Both teams have been dismissed in preseason predictions, and they are eager to demonstrate that last year’s titles were no fluke.
Tulane’s Green Wave reached the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history last season, but the optimism has faded quickly. Picked as low as seventh in the American Athletic Conference under new head coach Will Hall, the team faces skepticism despite four consecutive championship appearances. “How else would you want to start the year than two conference championship opponents going at it?” said Tulane linebacker Dickson Agu. “I do think we’ve been getting disrespected by people saying we’re going to win seven or eight games. We’ve been to the championship four years in a row, but that doesn’t mean anything this year. We have to go prove it again, and that’s what we’re going to do.”
Duke, meanwhile, emerged from the Atlantic Coast Conference title game victorious last year, yet the Blue Devils were tabbed 10th in the official ACC media poll. The departure of star quarterback Darian Mensah — who transferred from Tulane to Miami just before the portal closed — fueled the narrative that Duke’s title was a one-off. “I haven’t noticed a bunch of people shouting out that Duke is on top of the mountain,” said third-year head coach Manny Diaz. “We’ve kind of fallen back to the bottom half of the pile again, so I think that’s immediately established a chip on our shoulder for our guys.”
Both private schools have turned to experienced fifth-year transfer quarterbacks. Tulane’s Zeon Chriss-Gremillion, who started 13 games at UL and Houston, brings a dual-threat ability. Hall compared his experience to riding a bike: “He’s seen it before. People can tell you what it’s like to ride a bike, but until you ride one, you really just don’t understand it. He’s ridden the bike a lot.” Chriss-Gremillion ran for more than 100 yards twice at UL and nearly hit that total with 97 yards on 11 carries in a Houston win at TCU in 2024. That mobility could be key, as Tulane’s Jake Retzlaff exploited Duke’s defense last September with 111 rushing yards and four touchdowns in a 34-27 victory at Yulman Stadium.
Duke counters with Walker Eget, who started 18 games at San Jose State and threw for 5,555 yards over the past two seasons. Diaz praised his composure: “Having a guy that’s been in battles is part of it at that position. Knowing Walker’s personality, he’ll be excited, but he’ll be in control.” Unlike Mensah, who had only one carry for two yards against Tulane last year, Eget is not a dynamic runner — his longest run last season was 13 yards. Agu noted the difference in preparing for him: “Darian Mensah’s probably one of the best quarterbacks in the country. But Walker Eget is a good player, so we have to prepare accordingly. He’s not a crazy runner, so it’s different from playing our own offense.”
Injury concerns tilt the health advantage toward Duke. The Blue Devils lost only freshman backup guard Bruno Fina in preseason camp. Tulane, however, is missing starting guard Elijah Baker and likely will be without running back Jamauri McClure and center John Bock, both dealing with foot injuries. McClure rushed for nearly 500 yards in Tulane’s final five games as a redshirt freshman last year, and his absence dims what could have been a showcase of breakout running backs. Duke’s Nate Sheppard, a Mandeville High product who had 75 yards on five carries against the Wave as a true freshman, finished the season with 1,132 yards and 11 touchdowns on 200 carries, plus 37 receptions for 286 yards. “He’s really hard to tackle,” Hall said. “He has a low center of gravity with great balance.”
Despite the preseason forecasts, neither team intends to take a step back. Tulane guard Reese Baker captured the shared sentiment: “Once again, we’re being doubted. We want to prove people wrong.” As two conference champions meet in a non-conference setting, the game offers an early litmus test for whether the respect they earned last year is just a memory — or a foundation for something more.
Article commentary
This Saturday’s matchup between Tulane and Duke is more than a non-conference curiosity; it is a referendum on the volatility of college football’s perception cycle. Both teams enter as reigning conference champions, yet both are projected to finish near the middle of their respective leagues in 2025. The narrative of disrespect is a powerful motivator, but it also reveals deeper structural issues that shape how programs are evaluated. Tulane’s slide from College Football Playoff participant to seventh in the AAC preseason poll underscores the impact of coaching turnover. Will Hall replaces an established staff, and the loss of key players — including quarterback Michael Pratt to graduation — creates uncertainty. The Green Wave’s streak of four consecutive championship game appearances is impressive, but the parity within the AAC, combined with the transfer portal’s churn, means that past success offers little guarantee. The injury to running back Jamauri McClure further weakens an offense that relied on balance last season. Duke’s situation is similar but distinct. The Blue Devils have gone 21-12 in ACC play over four years, yet the media poll placed them 10th — a reflection of skepticism about Manny Diaz’s ability to sustain momentum after losing Darian Mensah. The transfer portal’s impact is stark: Mensah, who led Duke to the ACC title, left for Miami, and the Blue Devils had to replace him with a fifth-year transfer from San Jose State. While Walker Eget has experience, he lacks Mensah’s dynamic playmaking ability. The narrative that Duke’s title was a fluke is not entirely fair — the program has steadily improved — but it is understandable given the quarterback change. Both teams are leaning on veteran quarterbacks, which is a smart strategy in an era where experience is invaluable. Chriss-Gremillion and Eget are not flashy, but they are battle-tested. Their ability to manage the game and avoid mistakes will likely decide the outcome. Tulane’s rushing attack, even without McClure, could exploit Duke’s defense if Chriss-Gremillion replicates Retzlaff’s performance from last season. Duke, meanwhile, will rely on Nate Sheppard to carry the load and control the clock. From a broader perspective, this game highlights the growing gap between perceived and actual parity in college football. The preseason polls often reflect brand recognition and recruiting rankings rather than recent performance. Tulane and Duke have proven they can win at a high level, but they lack the blue-chip talent that commands automatic respect. Their success depends on player development, system fit, and continuity — factors that are harder to measure but no less real. Ultimately, the winner of Saturday’s game will not silence all doubters, but it will serve as an early indicator of whether these programs are built to last. For Tulane, a road win against an ACC champion would validate Hall’s system and the team’s resilience. For Duke, a victory would show that the program’s rise is not dependent on one player. The disrespect narrative may be overplayed, but it provides a compelling backdrop for a game that could reshape the early season landscape.