Defending ACC champion Duke opens the 2026 season at home in Wallace Wade Stadium against the Tulane Green Wave this Saturday, September 5, 2026, at 3:30 p.m. Television coverage will be provided by the ACC Network.
Duke has won its season opener four straight seasons. The last time Duke lost the first game of the season was 2021 on the road at Charlotte. The last time Duke lost its home opener was 2020 against Boston College.
These early season game previews are difficult to write because there is so much unknown about the opponent in this age of unlimited roster moves and NIL, but here goes…
What’s new in New Orleans? There is a lot new on the Tulane coaching staff. Will Hall takes over as the head coach from Jon Sumrall, who heads off to coach the Florida Gators. Hall has previous FBS head coaching experience at Southern Mississippi, where he compiled a 14-30 record in three and two-thirds seasons (2021-2024). Russ Callaway is the offensive coordinator coming to Tulane from Florida. Tayler Polk is the defensive coordinator after two seasons as Tulane’s co-defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach. Chris Forestier is the special teams coordinator after working as a special teams analyst at Texas in 2025.
Offense: Zeon Chriss-Gremillion (6-3, 220) won the quarterback battle in New Orleans and will be the starter. Chriss-Gremillion started his career at the University of Louisiana, then transferred to Houston for two seasons and now Tulane.
Chriss-Gremillion has a career completion percentage of 64 percent (204/319) for 2,263 yards with 17 TDs and 15 INTs. He has rushed 205 times for 992 yards and 10 TDs, including long rushing touchdowns of 80 and 71 yards in 2023 and 2024, so it will be vital for Duke to contain Chriss-Gremillion in the pocket and force him to make plays with his arm, not his legs. The Green Wave coaching staff has certainly watched the tape from Tulane’s win over Duke last season when quarterback Jake Retzlaff rushed for 111 yards and four TDs.
Sophomore running back Jamauri McClure rushed for 540 yards and two TDs in 2025, averaging an impressive 6.5 yards per carry. McClure will be joined in the running back rotation by Jaylin Lucas, a Florida State transfer, and Maurice Turner. Tulane has a roster position they call Super Back, which is a combination slot receiver and running back. Jaylin Lucas is listed as the starter at Super Back. Tulane will run the Wildcat at times with the Super Back lining up under or behind the center. Commentary in various online articles indicates Tulane’s running game will be by committee.
The receivers will be led by Anthony Brown-Stephens, Zycarl Lewis and Destyn Hill. Brown-Stephens was Tulane’s second-leading receiver in 2025 with 41 receptions for 523 yards and two TDs. Lewis recorded 24 receptions for 330 yards and two TDs. Destyn Hill is a transfer from LSU. The receiver room is in solid shape, with Brown-Stephens expected to be the go-to guy.
Along the all-important offensive line, Tulane will be playing lots of new faces due to losing four starters, so the OL is an unknown commodity headed into the 2026 season opener. Duke will have four new starters on the defensive line, so the line of scrimmage will be a key matchup in the game. Duke’s talent and depth at linebacker could be utilized to exploit the situation. Don’t be surprised when defensive coordinator Jonathan Patke dials up the blitz package frequently.
Players to Watch: Zeon Chriss-Gremillion, Anthony Brown-Stephens, Jamauri McClure, Jaylin Lucas.
Defense: Any discussion of Tulane’s defense has to start with safety Jack Tchienchou, who led the team with 83 tackles in 2025. Tchienchou was the American Conference Championship Game Most Outstanding Player and was named to the preseason watch lists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and the Chuck Bednarik Award.
Tulane’s defensive line was hit hard by the transfer portal and is an unknown commodity, same as the offensive line. The Green Wave will look to transfers and youngsters to step up and provide quality performance. Duke’s experienced offensive line should have an advantage here.
Linebacker is a position of strength for the Green Wave with Chris Rodgers (80 tackles) and Dickson Agu (36 tackles in five games before a season-ending injury) returning.
E’zaiah Shine and Anthony Rogers are the projected starting cornerbacks. Shine recorded seven pass breakups and 41 tackles in 2025. Rogers is a transfer from Nicholls State.
Players to Watch: Jack Tchienchou, E’zaiah Shine, Chris Rodgers.
A quick note on special teams. Tulane head coach Will Hall states his philosophy is to play his best players on special teams, so lots of starters will also be on the coverage teams.
Prediction: Duke avoids the slow start that doomed the Blue Devils last season in New Orleans, wins the battle in the trenches and prevails 27-21, winning its fifth consecutive season opener.
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