INDEPENDENT THINKING. EVERY GAME.● WEEKEND RECAPS · FINAL RESULTS
BETMETRICS.Inside the model
The game is in the details.
Weekend recaps
FBS college football / FINAL / Sat Sep 12, 2026 2:30 PM CT

Duke Blue Devils beat Illinois Fighting Illini 31-27

Illinois Fighting Illini led Duke Blue Devils 24-21 at halftime.

By BetMetrics

Final
Duke Blue Devils31
Illinois Fighting Illini27
WHERE IT TURNED

Duke Blue Devils defeated Illinois Fighting Illini 31-27. Illinois Fighting Illini led Duke Blue Devils 24-21 at halftime.

Walker Eget completed 15 of 21 passes for 206 yards and 3 touchdowns. Katin Houser completed 24 of 35 passes for 271 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Nate Sheppard ran 24 times for 147 yards and 1 touchdown. Ca'Lil Valentine ran 18 times for 56 yards.

Jonah Burton caught 4 passes for 76 yards and 1 touchdown. Collin Dixon caught 11 passes for 166 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Duke Blue Devils: 376 total yards; Illinois Fighting Illini: 382 total yards.

GAME LEADERS

Names of the game.

Passing yards

Walker Eget

Duke Blue Devils · 15/21, 206 YDS, 3 TD

Rushing yards

Nate Sheppard

Duke Blue Devils · 24 CAR, 147 YDS, 1 TD

Receiving yards

Jonah Burton

Duke Blue Devils · 4 REC, 76 YDS, 1 TD

Passing yards

Katin Houser

Illinois Fighting Illini · 24/35, 271 YDS, 3 TD, 1 INT

Rushing yards

Ca'Lil Valentine

Illinois Fighting Illini · 18 CAR, 56 YDS

Receiving yards

Collin Dixon

Illinois Fighting Illini · 11 REC, 166 YDS, 3 TD

Sacks

Will Holmes

Illinois Fighting Illini · 1

GAMEBOOK

The final ledger.

Open period scoring and team statistics
TeamQ1Q2Q3Q4Final
Duke Blue Devils7147331
Illinois Fighting Illini10143027

Team statistics

StatisticDuke Blue DevilsIllinois Fighting Illini
First downs1923
Net passing yards206271
Time of possession26:4633:14
Rushing yards170111
Third-down efficiency2-95-12
Total yards376382
Turnovers01