In an exciting matchup on Friday night, the Duke Blue Devils triumphed over Florida State for the first time in their history, clinching a 23-16 victory. Chandler Rivers bolstered the win by scoring on an interception return, while Todd Pelino contributed significantly by kicking three field goals. This victory improved Duke’s record to 6-1 overall and 2-1 in the Atlantic Coast Conference, allowing them to bounce back from their initial loss of the season.

Despite an impressive performance where Florida State outgained Duke by 111 yards, they fell to 1-6 overall and 1-5 in the conference. The Seminoles had a chance to level the score but lost possession of the ball after a fumble at the Duke 37-yard line with just over five minutes remaining in the game. Their final drive ended unsuccessfully on a fourth-down play that saw them lose additional yards, sealing their fate.

Duke quarterback Maalik Murphy completed 70 yards through the air, aiding the team’s total offensive output of 180 yards. On the other side, Florida State’s Brock Glenn had a rough day, committing turnovers on three straight plays during the first half—a fumble and two interceptions. He ended the day with 110 yards on 9-of-19 passing, while backup quarterback Luke Kromenhoek managed 19 yards on 3-of-7 attempts.

An exciting moment in the game came when Florida State’s Samuel Singleton Jr. took the kickoff to start the second half and returned it 95 yards for a touchdown, cutting Duke’s lead. Earlier in the game, after managing just 51 yards of offense, Duke had established a 17-3 lead thanks to Pelino’s 27-yard field goal with 10 minutes remaining in the first half.

The pivotal moment for Duke came when Rivers intercepted Glenn and returned the ball 36 yards for a touchdown. Following this play, Glenn fumbled on the very next snap, giving Duke a short field for their next score, which was capped off by a 2-yard touchdown run from Thomas on fourth-and-1. Although Ozzie Nicholas later added an interception that led to a field goal, the Blue Devils struggled with their early offensive drives, only producing punts.

Looking at the overall performance, the Seminoles were unable to find the end zone despite experimenting with two quarterbacks throughout the game. Their defense showed resilience, but the reigning ACC champions desperately need to win all remaining games to qualify for a bowl. Conversely, although Duke’s offense was less than stellar, their defense stood strong, recording six sacks and laying the groundwork for their victory.

As for what lies ahead, Florida State will face No. 6 Miami on October 26, while Duke is set to challenge No. 21 SMU at home on the same day.