The 2025–26 academic year has officially become the “Year of the Blue Devil.” Following a thrilling 74–70 victory over Virginia in the ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament final on March 14, 2026, Duke University accomplished a feat never before seen in the 73-year history of the Atlantic Coast Conference: winning conference titles in football, men’s basketball, and women’s basketball all in the same academic year.
The historic trifecta began in December 2025, when Manny Diaz led the Duke football team to an underdog victory in the ACC Championship game. Facing Virginia at Bank of America Stadium, the Blue Devils secured a 27–20 overtime win, marking the program’s first conference title since 1989. That victory set a tone of excellence that quickly spread to the hardwood.
On March 8, 2026, Kara Lawson’s women’s basketball program continued the momentum. Despite an uneven start to the season, the Blue Devils surged through conference play to defeat Louisville 70–65 in the ACC Championship. It was a milestone for Lawson and a testament to the program’s resilience, as they claimed back-to-back conference crowns.
The final piece of the puzzle fell into place in Charlotte, where Jon Scheyer’s men’s team—led by stars Cameron and Cayden Boozer—battled through a high-stakes final against Virginia. The win not only gave Duke its 24th men’s ACC title but also made them the first program in the conference to sweep the three “major” sports championships in a single season.
This “Triple Crown” places Duke in elite company nationally; they are the first Power Four school to achieve this specific sweep since UConn did so in the Big East in 2010–11. Under the leadership of Athletic Director Nina King, Duke has cemented its status not just as a basketball powerhouse, but as the premier athletic department in the ACC.
