No. 1 Miami’s offense is heading into a different kind of test now that Malachi Toney is out for the rest of the regular season, and the ripple effect lands squarely on Darian Mensah.
Toney had been the focal point through the first eight games, the guy soaking up most of the targets and giving the Hurricanes a clear first option. Without him against Notre Dame, Mensah will have to lean harder on the rest of Miami’s weapons and, if needed, bring more of his own running ability into the game plan.
“I’m really just trying to go out there and win games for my football team,” Mensah said about using his legs. “If you know, coach wants me to do that, then I’m willing to do it. You know, I’m willing to do whatever it takes to go on and win.”
That part of his game has shown up in flashes this season. Mensah hasn’t been asked to run much, but when Miami has needed a spark, he has delivered it. He ran for a 34-yard touchdown against Clemson and helped extend drives against North Carolina with his legs.
That versatility is exactly the kind of wrinkle offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson likes. It changes the way Miami can attack, gets more players involved, and keeps the offense from leaning so heavily on one receiver catching 10 balls a game.
And with Toney sidelined, Mensah’s path to the Heisman Trophy gets a lot clearer.
Last year’s quarterback matchup between Carson Beck and CJ Carr didn’t amount to much. This time, the game could help decide the Heisman winner.
Toney had been on pace to shatter Miami’s receiver records as a sophomore, with a season that looked good enough to put him in the mix for both the Heisman and the Biletnikoff Award. He and Mensah would have split some of that attention, but the injury changes the picture.
Mensah already leads the country in QBR. He has 25 passing touchdowns, 26 total touchdowns, 2,425 passing yards and just one interception in eight games, and plenty of those outings ended with him watching the second half from the sideline.
Now the stakes are even sharper. If he beats a Notre Dame team fighting for its College Football Playoff life without arguably the best player in the country beside him, the Heisman conversation could be over. Mensah would have the signature win, the numbers and the spotlight all at once.
He would also have outdueled Carr, added another major win for Miami without his star receiver and taken another step toward cementing himself as the best quarterback in the country and likely the No. 1 pick in next year’s NFL Draft.
In Other News...
Ahmmon Richards Just Exposed Where Miami Can Hurt Notre Dame
Ahmmon Richards has been doing more than reminiscing about his Miami days ahead of the Hurricanes matchup with Notre Dame. The former wide receiver broke down the Irishs quarterback play, defensive looks and offensive tendencies, offering a former players eye for the kinds of details that can swing a game before anyone even takes a snap. For Miami, that kind of outside perspective matters because it turns a big-name opponent into a film-study problem, with specific matchups and play calls suddenly coming into focus.
Richards pointed to Tyler Carrs style and the way Notre Dame structures its defense as part of the puzzle Miami has to solve, while also flagging the Irish players and offensive habits that could shape the flow of the game. He even walked through examples of plays to watch, which is the sort of granular breakdown that can reveal where an opponent is vulnerable without ever saying it outright. For the Hurricanes, the value is obvious: if those tendencies hold up on Saturday, there may be a clear path to stress Notre Dame in the spots it least wants to be tested. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Suddenly Has A Massive Question Before Notre Dame
Malachi Toneys ankle injury has quickly turned into one of the biggest pregame storylines for Miami as the Hurricanes prepare for Notre Dame. The star receiver was hurt in practice and is still being evaluated, leaving the staff to sort through what his status could mean for an offense that leans heavily on his playmaking.
Toneys importance goes beyond one matchup, because his presence shapes how Miami wants to attack and how opponents have to defend it. The injury has also stirred movement in the Heisman conversation, with his odds slipping and other names rising, but for Miami the immediate concern is simpler: whether one of its most valuable offensive pieces will be ready when the game arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Suddenly Has A Huge Malachi Toney Problem Before Notre Dame
Malachi Toneys ankle injury has put Miami in an uneasy spot heading into the Notre Dame game, because the Hurricanes have come to rely on him as one of the more important pieces of the offense. The injury happened in practice, and while coaches have said they believe it is not serious, there is still real uncertainty around whether hell be available when Miami needs him most.
Toney has already shown this season that he can push through minor issues and stay on the field, which is part of why this situation matters so much for Miamis preparation. For now, the Hurricanes are left waiting on his status, and the closer the game gets without a clear answer, the more it becomes a problem they have to plan around. [Read more 🡒]