Staff score predictions for Clemson’s huge ACC test against the Duke Blue Devils
NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...
Clemson returns to Memorial Stadium for a November showdown, set to face the Duke Blue Devils in Week 10 of the 2025 college football season. The Tigers, now 3-4 overall and 2-3 in ACC play, spent last weekend on a bye after falling 35-24 to SMU back on Oct. 18. That loss marked one of the tougher moments in an uneven season, but the extra week of rest could help them reset for the home stretch.
Quarterback Cade Klubnik missed the SMU matchup, but the Tigers didn’t fold behind backup Christopher Vizzina. The Birmingham native turned in a strong first collegiate start, throwing for 317 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. Klubnik is listed as “probable” to return this week according to Clemson’s latest ACC availability report, giving the Tigers some optimism offensively heading into Saturday.
Duke also used its bye to regroup following a 27-18 defeat against unbeaten Georgia Tech in Week 8. Quarterback Darian Mensah continued his standout season in that loss, passing for 373 yards and two touchdowns. Mensah currently leads the ACC in passing with 2,211 yards, ranking eighth in the nation.
Clemson starting quarterback Cade Klubnik listed as probable ahead of Clemson vs. Duke https://t.co/2Shl7y3JSrpic.twitter.com/qq5oFYdGrl
— Clemson Wire (@Clemson_Wire) October 31, 2025
This weekend marks the 56th meeting between the two programs. Clemson leads the all-time series 37-17-1 and last faced the Blue Devils in the 2023 season opener, earning a 28-7 win. Kickoff from Death Valley will air nationally on ACC Network, with Wes Durham and Steve Addazio in the booth and Dana Boyle handling sideline duties. The matchup will also be available for streaming through ESPN+ and Fubo.
Turri: Clemson 28, Duke 31
Full transparency, this is the first time this season I’ve picked Clemson to lose.
The sad reality is that I don’t trust this football team to put together a complete football game. On paper, Clemson is the much better team but as I’ve said all year, we all know games aren’t played on paper. Clemson simply doesn’t have it. When I say it, I mean IT. That it factor, that hunger, that drive… They look like an uninspired group of players who are poorly coached.
I think heading into this matchup, Duke smells blood in the water. If I’m them, I’m saying, 'why not us? Everyone else seems to take it to Clemson in Death Valley nowadays, why not us?'
If Clemson’s offense shows up, the defense won’t. If the defense shows up, the offense won’t. My faith has worn thin; Clemson drops this game, and missing a bowl game is further staring Dabo Swinney and the Tigers in the face.
Holley: Clemson 27, Duke 24
Clemson is 18-5 under Dabo Swinney when coming off a bye, but they’ve dropped three of the last five, including last year to Louisville. Regardless, this is a good Duke football team the Tigers are playing, and it starts with quarterback Darian Mensah, the ACC’s leading passer who’s in the top 10 nationally.
With a (hopefully) healthy Cade Klubnik back after the rest, I think this might actually could turn into something of a shootout if he and Mensah (373 passing yards in Duke’s loss to Georgia Tech) both get hot.
I could go either way with this pick, but I think the bye week helps Clemson more than Duke. The Tigers get their first win over a Power Four conference opponent in over a year — a drought I’m sure Dabo Swinney is tired of hearing about.
Contact us @Clemson_Wire on X (formerly known as Twitter), and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions
This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire: Clemson wire staff score predictions for Clemson vs. Duke 2025
More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos