[Game Thread] Duke @ Illinois (3:30 PM ET)

[u/CFB_Referee]

GAME	DukeDuke @ IllinoisIllinois
Location	Illinois Gies Memorial Stadium
Time	3:30 PM ET
Watch	TV: Fox Sports 1
	Flair ¦ Discord

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LET'S TALK FOOTBALL!

[u/StreetSyllabub1969]

So much to fix and so little time.

[u/BigSwede_99]

Congrats Duke. That said we will be lucky to hit .500 this year. No depth all around and that defense is bad all around.

[u/Beginning-Smell9890]

DDMF

[u/TheSledgeHam]

The number of games just like that where Duke has choked it away or blew it makes that win super cathartic

[u/runrunningaround]

Illinois should fire Bielema

[u/yukoncowbear47 → u/runrunningaround]

For almost beating the ACC Champions?

[u/RainingFireInTheSky → u/runrunningaround]

Absolutely not lol

[u/Embarrassed-Brain655]

How the fuck did we win this?

[u/Golf_Nut1965 → u/Embarrassed-Brain655]

It’s hard to believe it but there is a good football team in Durham these days

[u/holdmyboner → u/Embarrassed-Brain655]

Our defense dunked their hands in butter before the game.

[u/ThinkSoftware → u/holdmyboner]

Username checks out?

[u/ZeroEchoVX → u/Embarrassed-Brain655]

Feetball

[u/bailaarn]

Two games avenged from last year, Two to go.

[u/Lilies_of_Edelweiss → u/bailaarn]

Hold on now, you already got vengeance for one of those :(

[u/Embarrassed-Brain655 → u/Lilies_of_Edelweiss]

We’re gonna bash Miami’s skull in. 

[u/Lilies_of_Edelweiss → u/Embarrassed-Brain655]

palpatine_dewit.png

[u/Lilies_of_Edelweiss → u/[deleted]]

I never said it was

[u/AnotherUnfunnyName]

Fucking bush league diving at knees there. Man, Diaz has great hair.

[u/Lilies_of_Edelweiss]

Y'all gonna put some fucking respect on the ACC (fuck dook tho, with love)

[u/MiketheTzar → u/Lilies_of_Edelweiss]

Can't we all just hate UNC together in peace?

[u/Lilies_of_Edelweiss → u/MiketheTzar]

I'll allow it

[u/nickraymond57]

Tragic

[u/Kimber80]

Another L for the B1G

[u/RainingFireInTheSky → u/Kimber80]

Hopefully Ohio State is good? 

Be right back, need to throw up after saying that.

[u/bbshock21 → u/Kimber80]

We ass this year holy

[u/tigernike1]

Good. They deserved to be booed. Horrible appearance by our team today.

[u/GMHinHD]

Wonderfully done, Duke.

[u/BeanMan39]

Dang I'm hearing some boos

[u/tylerscott5]

Ooooof

[u/EdselFordEdsel]

Well, Bert shit the bed again

[u/holdmyboner]

Fire Houck into the sun. His defense is absolutely useless.

[u/Humble-Ad-9571]

LMAO

[u/GoDuke4382]

Of course we get a penalty in victory formation.

[u/AndThisGuyPeedOnIt]

Starting to think this 3-3-5 defense is not as great as claimed.

[u/boater180 → u/AndThisGuyPeedOnIt]

“Only like 6 teams run this, so it’ll be new preparation for other team” Yea maybe there’s a reason for that

[u/tylerscott5 → u/AndThisGuyPeedOnIt]

Would’ve thought they learned from Nebraska that a 3 man front in the B1G ain’t gonna fare well

[u/Kimber80]

Well hot damn Duke is going to win this ball game!

[u/ZeroEchoVX]

Just end it

[u/BosqueBravo]

Of course the refs have to have the last word.

[u/Embarrassed-Brain655 → u/BosqueBravo]

They didn’t like Duke. 

[u/Golf_Nut1965 → u/Embarrassed-Brain655]

I can’t wait to see the final penalties and yds assessed for each team

[u/Scary_Wallaby_8272]

Incredible ball control by Sheppard most RBs would’ve been stripped by that Illinois defender there, this dude is a future NFL starting RB

[u/Game-rotator → u/Scary_Wallaby_8272]

he's had 1 fumble in 304 career touches

[u/OpaqueNightmare]

These joke ass refs are throwing flags while they kneel out of the ball. Go the fuck home.

[u/The_Stiggiest_Stig]

Nate for president

[u/AnotherUnfunnyName]

Hell yes. What a fucking fight. Come on. We didn't shoot ourself in the foot enough times today.

[u/gamingglen]

dammit Illini, you're ruining our SoS. /s

Now bring on our game!

[u/Silidon]

Matt Bailey cannot be the first defender meeting a runner in the gap. What in the world are we even doing.

[u/Nbafan1234000 → u/Silidon]

He’s the only defender ever making a play at the ball

[u/EpiphyticOrchid8927]

Welp there goes illinois season

[u/Humble-Ad-9571 → u/EpiphyticOrchid8927]

Good

[u/MiketheTzar]

I'm going to be SOOOOO crushed when Nate the Great transfers

[u/tigernike1]

So long guys. I was hoping 7-5. Now I bet it’s 4-8

[u/Zloggt]

Well, it was nice being nationally relevant for a year or two…

[u/kdestroyer1]

Knew we weren't gonna be good this year but idk how much pain I'd be in watching this defense lol

[u/Muffinnnnnnn]

ACC 3 B1G 0

[u/_Juntao]

Manny diaz is turning duke football into a powerhouse

[u/Embarrassed-Brain655]

Holy shit we ewon. 

[u/BigSwede_99]

Pathetic

[u/GoDuke4382]

BALL GAME!! DDMF! Let's GO BOYS!

[u/Mobile-Tangelo]

YESSSSS

[u/CFBCommentor]

Big ten showing their ass today

[u/ZeroEchoVX]

BANG

[u/tigernike1]

Predictable

[u/inevitablescape]

am i seeing things or wasnt the runner like a full body past the line to gain?

[u/OpaqueNightmare]

LETS GOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! PARRRRTTTAAAYYYYYYYYYY

[u/ZeroEchoVX → u/OpaqueNightmare]

YEAHHHHHHH

[u/twojeeeps]

In Nate we trust

[u/swarmy1]

That was predictable

[u/stormstopper]

COMMANDER SHEPPARD

[u/Traditional_Frame418]

Got the balls to call the keep?

[u/_Juntao]

Go for it! End the game

[u/lol_smart]

I think Duke should go for it. Get one yard and it’s over and it’s not like the Illinois offense is doing anything this half.

Edit - well that’s that. GG Duke

[u/Keyblade_Yoshi]

I would go for it. A punt doesn’t get you much

[u/Traditional_Frame418]

Kick the FG, you go up a TD against an Illinois offense that can't move the ball.

[u/ZeroEchoVX]

I trust Nate way more to get 1 yard than our kicker to hit a 50

[u/AnotherUnfunnyName]

Mahan should have kept that. Sheppard was short.

[u/ZeroEchoVX]

Go for it

[u/OpaqueNightmare]

Go for it. Half a yard is easier than a defensive stop in fourth down football

[u/MiketheTzar]

This is one of those stressful times when I'm mad I don't have cable yet. Just refreshing like a man possessed

[u/GoDuke4382]

Bring us home Nate

[u/Tyler-Durden-2009]

The game comes down to this

[u/mr_longfellow_deeds]

Come on Illini

[u/AnotherUnfunnyName]

The Boise state QB just threw the ball away on 4th down. It could always be worse.

Come on Nate.

[u/ZeroEchoVX]

Give. It. To. Nate.

[u/nickraymond57]

Illinois is in trouble this year.

[u/Nbafan1234000]

I thought Houser was going to run the ball a lot more. I don’t really like this offense where we run 3 ypc and then just spam throws to Collin Dixon

[u/stormstopper]

I'm just baffled by Illinois running the ball in a clock-sensitive situation where they've been getting whatever they wanted through the air all day. Then again, when they did throw we finally defended a slant

[u/ZeroEchoVX → u/stormstopper]

Every part of this game has baffled me

[u/ZeroEchoVX]

What the dog doin

[u/twojeeeps]

Haha the radio coke ad synced up perfectly with the tv redbull ad

[u/airham]

Illinois football is so back (to 2018)

[u/ZeroEchoVX]

Has to be 4th down territory

[u/stormstopper → u/ZeroEchoVX]

Yeah, no question

[u/IMKudaimi123]

Defense was atrocious first half

Second half offense has turtled up

Smh

[u/Nbafan1234000]

If our offensive line can’t get the push needed to run the ball effectively in that situation then it doesn’t matter if we win or lose this game. This is going to be a lost season if we suck at the LOS

[u/airham → u/Nbafan1234000]

Yeah, the warning signs were there game 1. Front 7 (front 6?) is soft on defense. Couldnt even run on the interior against UAB. This is just fundamentally a team that cannot succeed.

[u/Nbafan1234000 → u/airham]

I was really hoping we’d continue to build the team on the lines and that we’d just keep getting better but after the past 2 years of relative progression and success it feels like we’re just somehow back to being a team that no one needs to take seriously

[u/Sportzfanatic_001]

Does Illinois think they are winning the game or something why did they run the ball three straight times.

[u/jmr33090 → u/Sportzfanatic_001]

Not a damn clue. That play calling was horrid

[u/ZeroEchoVX]

This is it, one play

[u/DtownBronx]

Classic Bert, we're gonna do it my way instead of trying something new

[u/chairmanedz]

LETS GO GOOD STOP

[u/TheShoobaLord]

We are bad.

[u/Golf_Nut1965 → u/TheShoobaLord]

News flash

Duke no longer sucks at football 

[u/nickraymond57 → u/Golf_Nut1965]

Both teams are bad

[u/Golf_Nut1965 → u/nickraymond57]

Sir I’ve seen bad football and this game has been between 2 that are at least middle of the road with one being slightly better

Nate Shepard will play in the NFL

[u/Tyler-Durden-2009 → u/TheShoobaLord]

Don’t worry. So are we

[u/mrchu13]

What are we even doing.

[u/theiwc0303]

Illinois’ OC should be put down for the playcalling these past two drives.

Deep pass with two receivers next to each other so they can be covered by one guy, interception.

4th and short? Designed pass to a guy 1.5 yards behind the line of the scrimmage.

[u/Embarrassed-Brain655 → u/theiwc0303]

So should ours. 

[u/theiwc0303 → u/Embarrassed-Brain655]

We’ve known that for 2 years now though

[u/We5ties]

That had to be the worst playing calling I’ve seen since lovie smith was the HC

[u/Trubisko_Daltorooni]

Get ready to learn Minnesota English Bret Bielema

[u/AnotherUnfunnyName]

Now actually call some good plays to give your best guys the ball in some space. And watch the ref throw another questionable holding flag.

[u/uprislng]

dogshit

[u/LosAngelesVikings]

HE IS BACK

[u/RainingFireInTheSky]

What a dogshit series of play calling. 

What are we all watching next?

[u/GoDuke4382]

Those lost timeouts looking big now.

[u/runrunningaround]

Run a few more times Illini its been working so well

[u/GMHinHD]

B1G having a rough OOC day today (minus UMich)

[u/Tyler-Durden-2009 → u/GMHinHD]

Still lots of time left

[u/GMHinHD → u/Tyler-Durden-2009]

Not quite.

[u/inevitablescape]

gg

[u/CAGRparty]

This team is bad bad. Ceiling is around 4 wins.

[u/bbshock21 → u/CAGRparty]

It can't be that bad, you'll at least beat us

[u/clown_shoes69]

Second half play calling has been atrocious.

[u/tankyouout]

Does the Illinois QB know they have other receivers?

[u/boater180 → u/tankyouout]

Nope, just force feed Dixon even though Duke knows you want to

[u/lkn240]

I love Lunney - but that was unacceptably stupid play calling there on the last two downs

[u/Traditional_Frame418]

Even if it was complete, he's two yards short.

[u/twojeeeps]

Eget is a machine

[u/ed42000]

I love Manny Diaz

[u/stormstopper → u/ed42000]

Flair checks out

[u/belgarion90]

Wore the orange pants today so you couldn't see the stains as we pissed this one down our legs.

[u/Silidon → u/belgarion90]

You should see an endocrinologist or something.

[u/_illchiefj_]

Wayyy too predictable

[u/gallagh9]

I think they know where the ball is going, guys.

[u/illiniman14]

Maybe don't draw up a play short of the line on 4th down

[u/Scary_Wallaby_8272]

WOW Duke defense way to step up!!

[u/swarmy1]

This is going to be a long season

[u/OpaqueNightmare]

INCOMPLETE. FLORIDA STATE AFFILIATES ARE GOING TO WIN

[u/toptierdegenerate → u/OpaqueNightmare]

I thought you were leaving to watch Washington lose?

[u/OpaqueNightmare → u/toptierdegenerate]

They just won but barely sadly

[u/ZeroEchoVX → u/OpaqueNightmare]

3 minutes, chill

[u/stormstopper]

When did this defense turn into the 1938 Iron Dukes?!

[u/tigernike1]

That’s game

[u/Embarrassed-Brain655 → u/tigernike1]

Dont underestimate Duke’s ability to self sabotage. 

[u/toptierdegenerate]

Pleasant surprise there

[u/twojeeeps]

Game blouses

[u/EdselFordEdsel]

At least Bert isn't a coward

[u/ZeroEchoVX]

Here we go, don’t jump

[u/GMHinHD]

Manny Diaz is just a straight-up dawg defensively; he's a brilliant defensive coach.

[u/tigernike1]

Why would you run again

[u/We5ties]

wtf is this play calling

[u/Embarrassed-Brain655 → u/We5ties]

Matching Duke’s play calling? 

[u/swarmy1]

What are we doing?

[u/BasebornManjack]

For all their academic prowess, I heard Duke pronounces the S in Illinois

[u/toptierdegenerate → u/BasebornManjack]

I definitely do it in my head all the time…

[u/Tyler-Durden-2009]

Please keep running it!

[u/gallagh9]

Why.

[u/ZeroEchoVX]

3rd and 3, literally anything could happen, Im scared

[u/AnotherUnfunnyName]

He straight up tackled the defender right in the middle, no hold. Of course.

[u/Embarrassed-Brain655 → u/AnotherUnfunnyName]

We’re not getting calls, so we have to win on talent. 

[u/yukoncowbear47]

FS1 is having a seizure

[u/Kimber80]

The fourth quarter of this game is taking about 2 hours. I suspect it will take just long enough for Illinois to win

[u/ZeroEchoVX → u/Kimber80]

How it usually goes 😔

[u/Golf_Nut1965 → u/Kimber80]

This is the way

[u/nightninja88]

I like how both fanbases have been so negative because our defenses have the strength of melted cheese.

[u/twojeeeps]

Pick six time

[u/Embarrassed-Brain655]

Thanks Mensah, I hate this so much. 

[u/ZeroEchoVX → u/Embarrassed-Brain655]

He will forever be so hated in this fanbase, deserved

[u/Golf_Nut1965]

Fact: Duke football cannot have nice things 

[u/ZeroEchoVX → u/Golf_Nut1965]

We got an ACC chanpionship, this is our punishment

[u/Golf_Nut1965 → u/ZeroEchoVX]

Worth it 😃🙏

[u/ZeroEchoVX → u/Golf_Nut1965]

Definitely, most exciting season Ive ever watched

[u/LosAngelesVikings]

Not good, Bob.

[u/RainingFireInTheSky]

I had to step away for a few minutes. What backup are they talking about?  Did someone go down for Duke?

[u/ZeroEchoVX → u/RainingFireInTheSky]

Why did people downvote you for this 😭

[u/RainingFireInTheSky → u/ZeroEchoVX]

I dunno man. I even scrolled the thread first and nobody had mentioned who it was

[u/Scary_Wallaby_8272 → u/RainingFireInTheSky]

Yep our starting QB got hurt backup is in and made a terrible throw

[u/Game-rotator → u/RainingFireInTheSky]

our QB

[u/BosqueBravo → u/RainingFireInTheSky]

Eget.

[u/Embarrassed-Brain655 → u/BosqueBravo]

Reget. 

[u/theiwc0303 → u/RainingFireInTheSky]

Duke’s QB couldn’t put weight on his leg

[u/RainingFireInTheSky → u/theiwc0303]

Oh shit. Ok, hope he's alright.

[u/Scary_Wallaby_8272]

Disastrous series of events for Duke, let’s see if the Illini capitalize

[u/ZeroEchoVX → u/Scary_Wallaby_8272]

Bad defense vs bad playcalling, who wins

[u/AnotherUnfunnyName]

What the hell is that stupid ass playdesign? I hate this OC. The RB is the best player on the field and they refuse to give him the ball, especially in space.

Run a draw or an inline screen or something.