Maalik Murphy, QB
Since he transferred out of the Texas program last offseason, sophomore quarterback Maalik Murphy has been one of the best stories in college football for the Duke Blue Devils this regular season. Murphy won the backup quarterback battle for the Longhorns last fall, beating out then true freshman signal caller Arch Manning for Texas coming out of preseason camp.
Murphy's perfect 2-0 record as a starting quarterback for the Longhorns in crucial Big 12 games that helped Texas make the College Football Playoff last year has clearly translated to another P4 school on the East Coast this year.
Duke head coach Manny Diaz made the right call, naming Murphy the starting quarterback this fall, coming out of camp. Murphy led the Blue Devils to their first 5-0 start to the regular season in over two decades this fall, including a clutch-time one-point victory over Duke's biggest in-state rival, the North Carolina Tar Heels.
This weekend, Murphy and Duke face former Wazzu quarterback transfer starter Cam Ward and the No. 5 Miami Hurricanes in a critical ACC matchup. If Murphy and the Blue Devils upset Ward and the Canes this weekend, that would not only dramatically shake up the first release of the 12-team CFP bracket rankings, but it could potentially see a benefit for Texas (his former team).
Despite surviving multiple close calls in ACC play this fall, Miami is ranked a spot higher in the AP Poll than the Longhorns this week.