Duke Blue Devils Stun Virginia in OT to Win Historic ACC Championship

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The drought is finally over. For the first time since 1962, the Duke Blue Devils are the outright champions of the Atlantic Coast Conference.

In a defensive battle that extended into overtime, Duke defeated the No. 16 Virginia Cavaliers 27-20 at Bank of America Stadium on Saturday night. The victory not only secures the conference trophy but also guarantees Duke a spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff, likely with a first-round bye as one of the four highest-ranked conference champions.

A Gritty Defensive Battle

The game was defined by physicality and tension. Both offenses struggled to find a consistent rhythm against energized defensive units. Duke took a narrow 10-7 lead into halftime, relying on their stout run defense to contain Virginia's versatile attack.

The Cavaliers responded in the second half, forcing two turnovers and taking a 17-13 lead early in the fourth quarter. However, Duke quarterback Maalik Murphy engineered a clutch 75-yard drive, capping it off with a touchdown pass to tie the game at 20-20 with under two minutes remaining.

Overtime Heroics

In the overtime period, Duke struck first. On third-and-goal, running back Star Thomas powered his way into the end zone to give the Blue Devils a 27-20 advantage.

On Virginia's ensuing possession, the Duke defense stood tall. A fourth-down pass breakup in the end zone sealed the victory, sending the Duke sideline—and the thousands of fans who traveled to Charlotte—into a frenzy.

Playoff Implications

With the win, Duke (11-2) completes a magical 2025 campaign under head coach Manny Diaz. They will now await the final College Football Playoff rankings release on Sunday to learn their seeding.

"This team just never quit," Diaz said during the trophy presentation. "People doubted us all year, but these young men believed. We aren't done yet."

For Virginia (10-3), the loss is heartbreaking, but they remain poised for a prestigious bowl invitation, capping off a remarkable resurgence for the program.