Former Texas QB preparing for big road test on Friday

Former Texas football quarterback Maalik Murphy led the Duke Blue Devils to a convincing 23-point victory over FCS Elon in his first start in Durham last Friday night in Week 1. Despite some ups and downs to start the game, including a first-quarter interception when the contest was still close on the scoreboard about 12 minutes in, Murphy put up good numbers in his first career win as Duke's starting quarterback.

After winning in Week 1, ex-Texas football QB Maalik Murphy is looking to go 4-0 as a starter in his second game in a Duke uniform on Friday night

Murphy finished up his first game in a Duke uniform with nearly 300 passing yards, 26 completions on 40 pass attempts, two passing touchdowns, and one interception, in the 26-3 victory on Aug. 30.

After getting the win in the tune-up game in Week 1 against a local in-state FCS opponent, Murphy and the Blue Devils have their first road test against a P4 opponent in Week 2 against the Northwestern Wildcats from the Big Ten.

Murphy's first career start against a P4 opponent on the road will come in the bright spotlight of a nationally televised game late in the primetime slot at 8 p.m. CT on Sep. 6.

Last season at Texas, Murphy went 2-0 as the starting quarterback for the Longhorns in Big 12 play after starting quarterback Quinn Ewers suffered an upper-body injury that knocked him out for a few weeks. Murphy started two games at home in late October and early November, including a critical overtime win over a ranked opponent in the Kansas State Wildcats that helped Texas eventually reach the Big 12 Championship Game.

Murphy spent most of last season as Texas's backup quarterback behind Ewers. He beat out then true freshman Arch Manning for the backup quarterback job coming out of fall camp.

The first two seasons of Murphy's collegiate career was spent at Texas before entering the transfer portal last offseason. He transferred to the Blue Devils when he saw an opportunity to win the starting job at a P4 school under new head coach Manny Diaz with Duke for the 2024 season.

If Murphy and the Blue Devils emerge victorious against Northwestern in this Friday night showdown between the ACC and Big Ten, he will be 4-0 as a starting quarterback in his career in college.

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