Duke’s academic requirements, unlike Clemson’s defense, won’t bend, nor will it break.

Quarterback and Fairhope, Alabama, native Riley Leonard, coming off the Blue Devils’ upset win of the Clemson Tigers on Monday, was looking for some breathing room on a homework assignment

Apparently, the big win over Dabo Swinney wasn’t enough to earn Leonard some currency with his professor when it came to turning in homework.

In a video posted on X, formerly Twitter, Leonard made his argument to Professor Taylor for an extension. Leonard did run for 98 yards, including a 44-yard touchdown run to put Duke ahead in the third quarter.

“Professor Taylor, if you’re seeing this, please let me turn in my homework late because it’s due tonight I think at 12, so it may already be 12,” Leonard said.

Leonard, and everyone else for that matter, got a response from Professor Taylor, and it wasn’t the answer Leonard was looking for, citing public policy.

“Hey Riley, great game last night man,” the professor said in a video posted on Duke’s social media. “It was so exciting. Congratulations to you and all your teammates. But you know, [Duke defensive end] Wesley Williams and the other linemen who are in the class, they said they prepared ahead and did it ahead of time. So why didn’t the quarterback?

“So, no way, man. No extension.”

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.