In a perfect world, Manny Diaz and Duke would be able to ease into this season with a new starting QB and significant changes on both sides of the football. A tune-up game to get everyone's feet wet would be nice.
That's not the case, however. While the Blue Devils do face a Group-of-Five opponent, it is one that has won 43 games in the last four years: the Tulane Green Wave. Diaz and company know this is a game they'll have to take seriously, even at home, after falling in New Orleans to this team a year ago.
Tulane has undergone some major changes itself this offseason, with head coach Jon Sumrall leaving to take the Florida job. There's still plenty of talent for Will Hall on the two-deep, but early in fall camp, the Green Wave are already dealing with an injury to a key player.
Junior RB Jamauri McClure has an injured foot and was seen riding a mobility scooter in practice on Tuesday. According to Tulane beat reporter Guerry Smith, it appears that the injury will linger into the season and is likely to cost McClure the season opener against Duke:
#Tulane running back Jamauri McClure is out with an injured left foot. He watched practice from a scooter today. Will Hall said McClure would be back early in the season but not necessarily in the opener against Duke. It is a blow, but running back is Wave's deepest position.
— Guerry Smith (@Guersmith) August 11, 2026
Tulane RB Jamauri McClure may miss the season-opener against Duke
McClure is a preseason All-AAC selection and is coming off an impressive sophomore season where he ran for 540 yards and two touchdowns on 6.5 yards per carry. He was expected to be Tulane's starting RB in 2026, though, as Smith notes, the Green Wave have significant depth at the position.
Tulane added three veteran backs in the portal who will be more than capable of shouldering the burden against Duke in McClure's absence. While none had the same production last season as McClure, they've all been around the block.
Florida State's Jaylin Lucas, Louisville's Maurice Turner, and Mississippi State's Johnnie Daniels are all competing for carries. Daniels might be the most intriguing of the bunch. He fell out of the rotation in Starkville last season before jumping in the portal to preserve a year of eligibility, but he ran for 540 yards on 5.0 yards per carry in 2024 in the SEC.
Even without McClure, Tulane figures to provide a significant test for Duke in the season-opener. Diaz will learn quickly what he has at QB with either Walker Eget or Dan Mahan, but more importantly, he'll learn if his defense is up to par after a disappointing 2025 on that side of the ball.
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