Sports · American Football · 6 hrs ago
Duke beats Virginia 19-16 on late trick-play touchdown
Duke beat Virginia 19-16 in Charlottesville on Friday night, ending a two-game losing streak.
With 1:14 left, running back Nate Sheppard threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to Brody Keefe, turning a 16-13 deficit into the winning score.
Virginia had taken the lead on a field goal with three minutes remaining, but Duke caught its defense off guard with the late trick-play touchdown.
The teams had met in last season’s ACC championship game, which Duke won in overtime after Virginia had beaten Duke in the regular season.
The win moved Duke to 5-2 overall and 2-2 in the ACC, while Virginia fell to 4-4 and 2-3.
The result keeps Duke’s hopes of reaching a second straight ACC title game alive, while Virginia has lost three of its last four games.
Duke next hosts Boston College on Oct.
31, and Virginia visits Wake Forest that day.
Duke beat Virginia 19-16 on Friday night after a late trick-play touchdown.
Running back Nate Sheppard threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to Brody Keefe with 1:14 remaining.
Virginia had taken a 16-13 lead on Will Bettridge’s 30-yard field goal with three minutes left.
The win snapped Duke’s two-game losing streak and left Virginia with its third loss in four games.
- Who
- Duke Blue Devils and Virginia Cavaliers.
- What
- Duke won 19-16 with a late trick-play touchdown pass from Nate Sheppard to Brody Keefe.
- When
- Friday night, Oct. 23, 2026.
- Where
- Scott Stadium in Charlottesville, Virginia.
- Why
- Sheppard’s 28-yard touchdown pass with 1:14 remaining gave Duke the winning points.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Virginia led 13-7 after Duke’s final four first-half possessions ended in punts.
Gavin Strange kicked a 39-yard field goal for Duke, making the score 13-10.
Strange kicked another 39-yard field goal to tie the game at 13-13.
Will Bettridge’s 30-yard field goal put Virginia ahead 16-13.
Nate Sheppard threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to Brody Keefe to put Duke ahead for good.
- Final score
- Duke 19, Virginia 16
- Winning play
- Nate Sheppard threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to Brody Keefe
- Time remaining on winning play
- 1:14
- Duke record
- 5-2 overall, 2-2 in ACC play
- Virginia record
- 4-4 overall, 2-3 in ACC play
5 sources
Duke 19-16 Virginia (Oct 23, 2026) Game Recap
Duke vs. Virginia odds, predictions: Betting preview, kickoff time, picks for Friday Week 8 college football
Virginia Hosts Duke in Friday Night ACC Championship Rematch
What people are saying
Where the last two weeks, these last four minutes have gone against us, tonight, our guys found a way to finish
I feel like we played great until that last snap when we gave up that busted play
It was well designed because they got their best player with the ball in his hands
Posts on X
DOUBLE PASS FOR THE LEAD