1943 Duke Blue Devils football team

{{Infobox college sports team season

| year = 1943

| team = Duke Blue Devils

| sport = football

| image =

| image_size =

| conference = Southern Conference

| short_conf = SoCon

| APRank = 7

| record = 8–1

| conf_record = 4–0

| head_coach = Eddie Cameron

| hc_year = 2nd

| captain = Game captains

| stadium = Duke Stadium

| champion = SoCon champion

}}

The 1943 Duke Blue Devils football team was an American football team that represented Duke University as a member of the Southern Conference during the 1943 college football season. In its second season under head coach Eddie Cameron, the team compiled an 8–1 record (4–0 against conference opponents), won the conference championship, was ranked No. 7 in the final AP Poll, and outscored opponents by a total of 335 to 34.{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/duke/1943-schedule.html|title=1943 Duke Blue Devils Schedule and Results|work=SR/College Football|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|access-date=March 8, 2019}}{{cite web| url=http://www.goduke.com/fls/4200/media-guides/football/2016/93-168_History.pdf |title=Duke Football 2016 Media Guide|publisher=Duke University|page=96|year=2016| access-date=March 8, 2019}}

The team ranked first among the nation's 76 major college teams in both scoring offense (37.2 points per game) and scoring defense (3.8 points per game).

In the final Litkenhous Ratings, Duke ranked fourth among the nation's college and service teams with a rating of 118.3.{{cite news |last=Litkenhous |first=E. E. |authorlink=Edward E. Litkenhous |title=Litkenhouse Selects U. S. Grid Leaders |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune/122968858/ |newspaper=The Salt Lake Tribune |location=Salt Lake City, Utah |date=December 17, 1943 |page=18 |access-date=April 16, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com {{Open access}} }}

The team played its home games at Duke Stadium in Durham, North Carolina.

Schedule

{{CFB schedule

| rankyear = 1943

| poll = AP

| timezone = Eastern

| time = y

| rank = y

| attend = y

| source = y

| September 18 |3:30 p.m.|| Camp Lejeune || Duke Stadium | Durham, NC | W 40–0 | 12,076 | {{cite news |last=Horner |first=Jack |title=Duke Plays Strong Opponent In Camp Lejeune Marines Today |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-and-record/123184360/ |newspaper=Greensboro Daily News |location=Greensboro, North Carolina |date=September 18, 1943 |page=4 |access-date=April 19, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com {{Open access}} }}{{cite news |last=Herbert |first=Dick |title=Blue Devils Rout Marines Marines, 40 to 0 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer/123184712/ |newspaper=The News & Observer |location=Raleigh, North Carolina |date=September 19, 1943 |page=10 |access-date=April 19, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com {{Open access}} }}

| September 25 ||| Richmond || Duke Stadium | Durham, NC | W 61–0 | 7,415 | {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112759124/scoring-is-easy-for-blue-devils-against/|work=The Sunday Star-News|title=Scoring is easy for Blue Devils against Spiders|date=September 26, 1943|accessdate=December 22, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}

| October 2 ||| North Carolina Pre-Flight || Duke Stadium | Durham, NC | W 42–0 | 6,179 | {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer-duke-does-usual-b/137237686/|work=The News and Observer|title=Duke does usual, Blue Devils roll for six counters|date=October 3, 1943|accessdate=December 22, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}

| October 9 ||vs.| No. 4 Navy |5| Municipal Stadium | Baltimore, MD | L 13–14 | 55,600 |{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-navy-rides-out-late-sto/137237779/|work=The Miami Herald|title=Navy rides out late storm for 14–13 win over Duke|date=October 10, 1943|accessdate=December 22, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}

| October 16 ||| North Carolina |6| Duke Stadium | Durham, NC | W 14–7 | 32,000 |{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-duke-score-early-to-de/137237880/|work=The Baltimore Sun|title=Duke score early to defeat North Carolina eleven by score of 14 to 7|date=October 17, 1943|accessdate=December 22, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}

| October 30 ||at| Georgia Tech |8| Grant Field | Atlanta, GA | W 14–7 | 30,000 | {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news-duke-blue-devils-def/132740316/|work=The Birmingham News|title=Duke Blue Devils defeat Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, 14 to 7|date=October 31, 1943|accessdate=October 1, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}

| November 6 ||at| NC State |9| Riddick Stadium | Raleigh, NC (rivalry)| W 75–0 | 6,000 |{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-state-thirty-two-v-12-losses-dont-h/137238019/|work=The State|title=Thirty-two V-12 losses don't hurt Duke; Score, 75 to 0|date=November 7, 1943|accessdate=December 22, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}

| November 13 ||| Virginia |7| Duke Stadium | Durham, NC | W 49–0 | 6,000 |{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/winston-salem-journal-duke-wins-490/137238103/|work=Winston-Salem Journal|title=Duke wins, 49–0|date=November 14, 1943|accessdate=December 22, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}

| November 20 ||at| North Carolina |6| Kenan Memorial Stadium | Chapel Hill, NC (rivalry) | W 27–6 | 27,000 |{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-blue-devils-roll-over-ta/137238222/|work=Greensboro Daily News|title=Blue Devils roll over Tar Heels by 27–6 before 27,000 fans|date=November 21, 1943|accessdate=December 22, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}