Duke offensive lineman Justin Pickett was named as a team captain prior to the 2025 college football season. He got into a physical altercation with UConn on Saturday.
The fifth-year post-baccalaureate student repeatedly smashed an defensive lineman Kervins Choute’s head into the ground long after the play was already over.
I do not know exactly what led to this unfortunate college football incident but it sounds like Pickett only acted in retaliation. I do know for certain that it was not a “football play” and Pickett got caught.
UConn fans showed out for the Duke game.
What Jim Mora has done with the program in Storrs over the last 3.5+ seasons has been nothing short of remarkable. The Huskies were a perennial basement dweller throughout the 2010s and a laughing stock in 2021 when they finished the year at 1-11.
Mora took over in 2022 and led UConn to a bowl game in his first season at the helm. And then the Huskies won nine games last season. They currently sit at 7-3 in 2025 after a win over the Blue Devils.
A stadium that often sat empty over the last few decades was packed to the gills on Saturday.
Fans who showed out to the Rent were treated to a back-and-forth game and a victory. UConn beat Duke by three points, 37-34, behind a big day from quarterback (and lowkey Heisman Trophy candidate) Joey Fagnano. He went 27-of-39 for 311 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions.
It was a statement win! Unfortunately, it might be marred by an ugly incident.
College football officials did not throw a flag.
Video from the third quarter shows a pileup at the end of a play. The play was completely dead. Over.
Pickett (No. 77) can be seen sandwiched between two UConn defenders, at which point he reaches back to shove Kervins Choute (No. 33) head into the ground multiple times.
Dirty fucking Duke pic.twitter.com/hXnAvo93ny
— Mediocre Dan (UConn Fan) (@ItsMediocreDan) November 8, 2025
Huskies fans were outraged by the behavior. Especially from a team captain. They were also upset with ACC referees for keeping their penalty flags in their pockets. It looked like unsportsmanlike conduct.
However, it sounds like Choute might’ve started it.
According to bots on the ground, Pickett told the officials that UConn’s defensive lineman grabbed hold of his genitals. Or, at the very least, made contact with his manhood.
Justin Pickett did not appreciate the gesture and fought back.