Nate Sheppard Sets Duke Single-Season Rushing Touchdown Record
Sheppard's 69-yard run against NC State gave him his 15th rushing touchdown of the season and gave Duke a 7-0 lead.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Football
Duke running back Nate Sheppard set the program's single-season rushing touchdown record with a 69-yard run on the fourth play of the opening drive against NC State on Saturday, Nov. 7. The score gave Duke a 7-0 lead and pushed Sheppard past 1,000 rushing yards on the season.
Why it matters
The record-setting touchdown marks a new benchmark in Duke's program history for a single season. It also underscores Sheppard's production in a season where he has become the team's primary ground threat.
Sheppard's 15 rushing touchdowns and 1,000 rushing yards rank him among a small group of Duke players with multiple 1,000-yard seasons, joining Randy Cuthbert (1989, 1992) as the only other player with two. The 69-yard run is the longest of his Duke career, including the longest touchdown run.
The players
Nate Sheppard
Duke running back whose 15 rushing touchdowns set a single-season program record.
The details
Duke converted a third-and-10 with a Walker Eget pass to Jonah Burton before Sheppard broke loose for the 69-yard touchdown on the opening drive. The score, his 15th of the season, came in Duke's game against NC State in Raleigh, N.C.
Timeline
Saturday, Nov. 7: Sheppard scores his record-setting 15th rushing touchdown on the fourth play of Duke's opening drive against NC State.
Season Trajectory
Sheppard's second 1,000-yard season places him alongside Randy Cuthbert, who recorded 1,000-yard seasons in 1989 and 1992, as the only two Duke players with multiple such campaigns. He is the eighth Duke player to reach 1,000 rushing yards in a season, which situates his 2026 output within the program's history of productive backs.
Fantasy managers tracking rushing touchdowns now have Sheppard's 15 scores as a benchmark for Duke's offense. Duke's rushing output remains central to its offensive plan for the rest of the schedule.
The takeaway
Sheppard's record reflects how central the rushing game has become to Duke's offense. Readers following the season should watch whether his touchdown pace holds as conference play continues.
Further reading
For more on the team's season, see Football coverage across Durham.
