Duke Trounces Notre Dame in Historic Blowout

The 44-point loss is the worst in Notre Dame basketball history.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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In a stunning upset, the Duke Blue Devils routed the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 100-56 on Tuesday night, handing Notre Dame its biggest loss in modern program history. The 44-point margin of defeat surpassed Notre Dame's previous record for largest loss, which dated back to 1898. Notre Dame head coach Micah Shrewsberry also suffered an Achilles injury during the game, adding insult to injury for the struggling Irish squad.

Why it matters

This lopsided loss is a major setback for Notre Dame, which had previously won 6 straight home games against the nation's top-ranked teams. The blowout raises questions about the future of head coach Micah Shrewsberry, who has struggled to turn the program around in his tenure.

The details

Duke dominated from the opening tip, racing out to a huge lead and never looking back. Notre Dame struggled mightily on both ends of the floor, unable to slow down Duke's potent offense or generate any consistent scoring of their own. To add injury to insult, Shrewsberry suffered an Achilles injury at some point in the first half and needed assistance to the locker room at halftime.

  • The game took place on Tuesday, February 25, 2026.

The players

Micah Shrewsberry

The head coach of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's basketball team.

Pete Bevacqua

The athletic director of the University of Notre Dame.

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What they’re saying

“This is the season from hell, and it's a hell of my own making.”

— Micah Shrewsberry, Head Coach, Notre Dame Fighting Irish (Yahoo Sports)

What’s next

Notre Dame has three games left in the regular season and must win at least one, and likely two, to qualify for the ACC Tournament. The future of head coach Micah Shrewsberry remains uncertain, with questions about whether Notre Dame can afford to keep him after multiple disappointing seasons.

The takeaway

This historic blowout loss underscores the struggles Notre Dame has faced under Micah Shrewsberry's leadership, raising doubts about the program's direction and the long-term viability of Shrewsberry's tenure as head coach.