Miami will be without Malachi Toney for the game against Notre Dame, and possibly for the remainder of the regular season.
Toney sustained an ankle injury during practice on Wednesday and will now be absent from the No. 1 Hurricanes’ upcoming trip to South Bend. Toney is expected to have surgery due to this injury, as reported by Ross Dellenger from Yahoo Sports.
While a precise recovery timeline has not been confirmed, it is anticipated that Toney will be sidelined for a duration of four to six weeks. This timeline suggests that he might be back in time for the College Football Playoff. The opening round of postseason games is scheduled for December 18-19, with the quarterfinal matches planned for December 30 and New Year’s Day.
Toney ranks second among all college football receivers, boasting 73 receptions, and is one of just three players who have surpassed 1,000 receiving yards. His 13 touchdown receptions are only surpassed by Oregon State WR Jesse Legree’s 14.
As Week 10 approaches, Toney’s chances of winning the Heisman Trophy according to BetMGM were pegged at +325, placing him behind only his teammate Darian Mensah (+150) and Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith (+275).
The sophomore is averaging close to 130 receiving yards per game for the No. 1 Hurricanes, who remain one of only three unbeaten teams in college football. On Saturday night, the Hurricanes will be 6.5-point underdogs against No. 11 Notre Dame, which is ranked seven spots lower in the CFP standings compared to their position in the AP Top 25.
This context transforms the matchup into a potentially critical game for Notre Dame’s playoff aspirations, especially given their upcoming schedule that includes Boston College, SMU, and Syracuse. Last year, Notre Dame missed the playoffs with a 10-2 record, largely due to a loss to Miami in Week 1. The Fighting Irish were ranked ahead of the Hurricanes until the final CFP rankings iteration. Although neither team participated in the conference championship weekend, Miami surpassed Notre Dame to qualify for the College Football Playoff and eventually progressed to the national championship game.
Toney would have faced off against top Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore on Saturday had he been able to play. Moore, a likely top-five pick in the 2027 NFL Draft, missed the Irish’s Week 9 victory over Navy but is expected to make his return this Saturday.
However, the Hurricanes must now figure out how to secure a victory in South Bend while maintaining their playoff standing without Toney in the lineup.
