DURHAM — For the first time in Manny Diaz’s three seasons at Duke, the Blue Devils open preseason practice without a starting quarterback in place. Duke won its first outright ACC football championship since 1962 last year with star Darian Mensah at quarterback. But Mensah made a messy exit to Miami in the offseason, leaving the Blue Devils’ quarterback situation in a state of flux. Mensah, a transfer from Tulane, threw for 3,973 yards and 34 touchdowns with just six interceptions in his one year at Duke. Duke, which is 18-9 in the last two seasons, opens its 2026 campaign at home against Tulane on Sept. 5.