DURHAM, N.C. (WNCN) — It’s a new era for Duke football, and they’ll kick off their 2024 season against an FCS team from a short drive away down Interstate 40.
The Blue Devils host the Elon Phoenix at Wallace Wade Stadium Friday night. The game’s start time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
It will be Duke’s first game under Manny Diaz, who was hired after Mike Elko went back to Texas A&M following the end of the regular season last year. Diaz is no stranger to the Atlantic Coast Conference, as he was previously head coach at Miami before his most recent position as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Penn State. The Blue Devils will also have a new starting quarterback in Maalik Murphy following Riley Leonard’s transfer to Notre Dame.
The Blue Devils and Phoenix have played each other on the gridiron eight previous times, with Duke winning seven of those games and one matchup ending in a tie.