Duke won 31-27 to level the all-time series at 2-2. Nobody has ever won two in a row in this series, and Duke made sure of it again. Watch Duke vs Illinois highlights on FOX Sports or stream on FOX One. The fourth meeting in 68 years came from Gies Memorial Stadium in Champaign on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026 at 3:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. PT in Week 2 of the 2026 college football season.

Duke vs Illinois Highlights

Illinois led 24-14 in the second quarter and 24-21 at halftime. Duke took a 28-24 lead in the third and never trailed again. Nate Sheppard ran 24 times for 147 yards and a touchdown and caught five passes for 41 yards and two more, breaking three tackles on one carry, while Duke gained 170 yards on the ground as a team. Walker Eget went 15-of-21 for 206 yards and three touchdowns and returned after being sacked by Will Holmes and hurting his leg in the fourth quarter. Collin Dixon had the best day of any Illini, with 11 catches for 166 yards and three touchdowns — all three in one half, a program first — and Katin Houser finished 24-of-35 for 271 yards and three scores. Illinois was a six-point favorite in front of a sold-out Gies Memorial Stadium. You can stream Duke vs Illinois highlights on FOX One. Live FOX College Football, highlight reels, expert coverage and on-demand FOX programming all sit in one place on FOX One. Start your 3-day free trial and stream on supported devices.

Where to Watch Duke Blue Devils vs Illinois Fighting Illini Football

FOX + ESPN College Football Schedule 2026 — Week 3

Friday, Sept. 18, 2026
Week 3 — Watch Houston vs Texas Tech — 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT
Week 3 — Watch Portland State vs Oregon — 10:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. PT

Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026
Week 3 — Watch Arizona State vs Kansas — 12:00 p.m. ET / 9:00 a.m. PT
Week 3 — Watch Kent State vs Ohio State — 12:00 p.m. ET / 9:00 a.m. PT
Week 3 — Watch Akron vs Minnesota — 12:00 p.m. ET / 9:00 a.m. PT
Week 3 — Watch Buffalo vs Penn State — 12:00 p.m. ET / 9:00 a.m. PT
Week 3 — Watch Utah State vs Utah — 3:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. PT
Week 3 — Watch UTEP vs Michigan — 3:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. PT
Week 3 — Watch Northern Iowa vs Iowa — 4:00 p.m. ET / 1:00 p.m. PT
Week 3 — Watch Eastern Washington vs Washington — 7:15 p.m. ET / 4:15 p.m. PT
Week 3 — Watch North Dakota vs Nebraska — 7:15 p.m. ET / 4:15 p.m. PT
Week 3 — Watch Colorado vs Northwestern — 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT
Week 3 — Watch Virginia Tech vs Maryland — 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT
Week 3 — Watch LSU vs Ole Miss — 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT
Week 3 — Watch Fresno State vs San Jose State — 11:00 p.m. ET / 8:00 p.m. PT
Week 3 — Watch Purdue vs UCLA — 11:00 p.m. ET / 8:00 p.m. PT

FOX + ESPN College Football Schedule 2026 — Week 2

Friday, Sept. 11, 2026
Week 2 — Watch Missouri vs Kansas — 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT

Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026
Week 2 — Watch Oklahoma vs Michigan — 12:00 p.m. ET / 9:00 a.m. PT
Week 2 — Watch Wake Forest vs Purdue — 12:00 p.m. ET / 9:00 a.m. PT
Week 2 — Watch Howard vs Indiana — 12:00 p.m. ET / 9:00 a.m. PT
Week 2 — Watch Arizona vs BYU — 3:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. PT
Week 2 — Watch Duke vs Illinois — 3:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. PT
Week 2 — Watch Eastern Michigan vs Michigan State — 3:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. PT
Week 2 — Watch Utah State vs Washington — 3:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. PT
Week 2 — Watch Bowling Green vs Nebraska — 7:00 p.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. PT
Week 2 — Watch San Diego State vs UCLA — 7:15 p.m. ET / 4:15 p.m. PT
Week 2 — Watch Western Illinois vs Wisconsin — 7:15 p.m. ET / 4:15 p.m. PT
Week 2 — Watch Ohio State vs Texas — 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT
Week 2 — Watch North Dakota State vs Air Force — 10:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. PT
Week 2 — Watch Louisiana vs USC — 11:00 p.m. ET / 8:00 p.m. PT

Illinois and Duke are level at 2-2 all time, and the four meetings are spread across 68 years. Duke won the first 15-13 in Durham on Oct. 4, 1958. Illinois took the second 28-14 in Champaign in 1965. Then came a 45-19 Illinois win at Duke on Sept. 6, 2025, in which the Illini trailed by one at halftime before outscoring Duke 31-6 the rest of the way and forcing five turnovers, including a muffed punt and a red-zone fumble by Darian Mensah.

The 2025 and 2026 games are the first back-to-back meetings in the series, and neither program has ever won two in a row against the other. Duke took the 2026 meeting 31-27 in Champaign for its sixth straight win overall, a run dating to a 32-25 victory over North Carolina on Nov. 22, 2025 that carried the Blue Devils to the ACC title.