Less than a week ahead of their season opener against Notre Dame, Duke head coach David Cutcliffe named Clemson transfer Chase Brice QB1. It was decision he didn’t arrive to easily as all three guys who were competing for the job performed well during fall camp, but ultimately it was Chase who stood out.
“I could not be more proud of the three young men who competed for the privilege to be this team’s starting quarterback at Notre Dame in the season-opener,” Cutcliffe said. “Chase, Chris (Katrenick) and Gunnar (Holmberg) all have played really well during camp. We have a healthy quarterback room and the competition has made everyone better. Ultimately, Chase has made plays at the highest rate.”
For the second year in a row, the Blue Devils will face one best programs in college football history when they travel to South Bend to face #10 Notre Dame. It’s a challenge Brice says he’s ready for.
“I came in just wanting to get the offense down, earn the respect of my teammates and make plays on the practice field – hopefully giving our offense the best chance to win,” Chase said in his first press conference after being named the starter. ” I’m grateful, humbled and ready for this weekend; I know we are as a team. We have a great challenge ahead and it’s one we’re going to face head-on.”
A native of Grayson, Ga., Brice joined the Duke program in July after graduating from Clemson University, where he helped the Tigers to a three-year (2017-18-19) record of 41-3 with three ACC Championships, three College Football Playoff appearances and the 2018 National Championship. In 25 career collegiate games, he has completed 82-of-136 (.603) passes for 1,023 yards with nine touchdowns and four interceptions while rushing 30 times for 187 yards and one score.
The Blue Devils open the 2020 campaign on Saturday at Notre Dame. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m., and the game will be televised live by NBC Sports.
Game Notes:
- In the season-opener for both squads, Duke kicks off its 108th season of football by meeting No. 10 Notre Dame on Saturday, September 12. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m.
- In 2019, the Blue Devils went 5-7 overall and 3-5 in ACC play. Highlights from the season were Duke’s three straight wins while scoring 40+ points, and its a second consecutive victory over Miami in the season finale.
- Under head coach David Cutcliffe, the Blue Devils are 9-3 in season-openers . Duke enters this week’s Notre Dame game having won seven of its last eight lid-lifters.
- The Blue Devils are 28-143-6 all-time against nationally-ranked opponents (AP poll) including ledgers of 10-59-4 versus top-10 foes and 3-32-2 against top-5 competition.
- This year’s season-opening game will mark the seventh on the gridiron between the two schools with Notre Dame leading the series, 4-2.
- The Fighting Irish won the first meeting in 1958 but the Blue Devils evened the series in 1961 with a 37-13 victory after racking up 440 yards of total offense and three interceptions.
- Duke’s other victory in the series came four years ago in South Bend when K AJ Reed nailed a game-winning 19-yard field goal with 1:24 remaining in the fourth quarter. The Fighting Irish then turned it over on downs at their own 40 with 40 seconds remaining.