Nate Sheppard scores 3 TDs, Duke rallies to beat Illinois 31-27 for its sixth straight win

— Nate Sheppard ran for 147 yards and a touchdown and caught two touchdown passes to lead Duke to a come-from-behind 31-27 victory Saturday over Illinois.
Sep 13, 2026, 12:29 am - AP
Play-By-Play
1st Quarter
Illinois Fighting Illini
Touchdown
10:23 - 1st
0
DUKE
7
ILL
K. Houser pass to C. Dixon for 13 yds, for a TD (E. Moczulski KICK)
8 plays, 75 yards, 4:37
Duke Blue Devils
Touchdown
8:28 - 1st
7
DUKE
7
ILL
W. Eget pass to J. Burton for 12 yds, for a TD (C. Salas KICK)
4 plays, 75 yards, 1:55
Illinois Fighting Illini
Field Goal
3:41 - 1st
7
DUKE
10
ILL
E. Moczulski 51 yd FG GOOD
11 plays, 43 yards, 4:47
2nd Quarter
Illinois Fighting Illini
Touchdown
12:47 - 2nd
7
DUKE
17
ILL
K. Houser pass to C. Dixon for 40 yds, for a TD (E. Moczulski KICK)
8 plays, 72 yards, 3:49
Duke Blue Devils
Touchdown
7:05 - 2nd
14
DUKE
17
ILL
N. Sheppard run for 2 yds, for a TD (C. Salas KICK)
12 plays, 75 yards, 5:42
Illinois Fighting Illini
Touchdown
1:48 - 2nd
14
DUKE
24
ILL
K. Houser pass to C. Dixon for 2 yds, for a TD (E. Moczulski KICK)
11 plays, 75 yards, 5:17
Duke Blue Devils
Touchdown
0:38 - 2nd
21
DUKE
24
ILL
W. Eget pass to N. Sheppard for 7 yds, for a TD (C. Salas KICK)
8 plays, 75 yards, 1:10
3rd Quarter
Duke Blue Devils
Touchdown
10:47 - 3rd
28
DUKE
24
ILL
W. Eget pass to N. Sheppard for 3 yds, for a TD (C. Salas KICK)
9 plays, 75 yards, 4:13
Illinois Fighting Illini
Field Goal
5:08 - 3rd
28
DUKE
27
ILL
E. Moczulski 47 yd FG GOOD
11 plays, 46 yards, 5:39
4th Quarter
Duke Blue Devils
Field Goal
13:53 - 4th
31
DUKE
27
ILL
C. Salas 39 yd FG GOOD
10 plays, 53 yards, 6:15
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