First Duke took down Clemson. Then it took down Lafayette. Then Northwestern. Then UConn. This coming weekend, however, comes perhaps the biggest of the bunch — top-10 Notre Dame.
And, ESPN College GameDay.
For the first time in the program's history, the popular pregame show is headed to Durham, ESPN announced Saturday night via social media. The decision comes in anticipation of the 18th-ranked and undefeated Blue Devils' showdown with the ninth-ranked Fighting Irish, both of whom may well bolster their spots in the polls further by the prime time 7:30 p.m. kickoff at Wallace Wade Stadium.
The three-hour panel of Rece Davis, Desmond Howard, Kirk Herbstreit, Pat McAfee and Lee Corso was in South Bend, Ind., Saturday for Notre Dame's clash with Ohio State.
Head coach Mike Elko's Duke team has enjoyed a spectacular start to its campaign so far, knocking off the then-ninth-ranked Tigers at home in a dominant 28-7 victory before steamrolling its next three opponents, culminating in the Blue Devils' highest place in the AP Poll for nearly 20 years. Much of this has been because of exceptional running play from the likes of Jordan Waters and quarterback Riley Leonard, who has built on his breakout 2022 season and cemented himself as one of the conference's — and the country's — premier signal callers.
Meanwhile, Notre Dame kept it close against a loaded Ohio State team at home Saturday night behind an assured performance from quarterback Sam Hartman, who transferred to the Fighting Irish after a record-breaking career at Wake Forest.
The last time Duke and Notre Dame played each other was the 2020 season opener, where the Blue Devils lost 27-13.
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Andrew Long is a Trinity junior and sports editor of The Chronicle's 119th volume.