Malachi Toney’s résumé keeps growing on and off the field.
Ahead of Miami’s trip to face UNC on Saturday night in Chapel Hill, the Hurricanes wide receiver reportedly added another N.I.L. partnership to his list, this time with JPMorgan Chase, according to On3. It’s the third deal of the season for the 19-year-old, who had already lined up agreements with Red Bull and Adidas before the new Nike contract agreement was officially announced.
The business wins are coming alongside a monster season that has Toney rewriting Miami’s record book in real time. Through seven games, he leads the Football Bowl Subdivision with 66 catches for 952 yards and has scored 11 total touchdowns.
His best moments have been nothing short of loud. In Miami’s 45-6 win over Standard in the season opener, the Liberty City, Fla. native erupted for 234 receiving yards on 12 catches and scored three touchdowns.
Each time he reached the end zone, he flashed the Heisman Trophy pose. That night, he broke Eddie Brown’s 42-year-old program mark for receiving yards in a single game, passing the previous record of 220 set against Boston College in 1984.
The fireworks didn’t stop there. In last Saturday’s 52-23 win over Pitt, Toney hauled in 16 passes for 194 yards and three touchdowns, setting a new Hurricanes record for receptions in a game.
He’s also closing in on another major milestone. Toney is five touchdowns shy of matching Pro Football Hall of Famer and 1987 National Champion Michael Irvin for Miami’s all-time record. With four regular-season games left after the UNC matchup, he has a real shot to get there before the College Football Playoffs.
In Other News...
Miami Heads To UNC With One Injury Concern Still Lingering
Miami heads to North Carolina with the usual late-week injury report bringing more questions than comfort, even before the trip north gets underway. Six Hurricanes are already ruled out, including wide receiver Joshua Moore and running back CharMar Brown, thinning out depth at two spots Miami would prefer to keep stocked for a road game with real ACC weight.
Milan Parris, the freshman who had been worth monitoring, is not listed, but the lingering concern around veteran cornerback Xavier Lucas keeps at least one part of Miamis preparation under a bit of a cloud. UNC has its own defensive uncertainty with several starters either out or questionable, so the matchup carries the feel of a game where availability could matter as much as scheme once the teams finally take the field. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame Could Be Miamis Biggest Unbeaten Test Yet
Miami heads into Halloween weekend as one of just three unbeaten FBS teams left standing, and the attention now shifts from preserving the perfect record to surviving what comes next. The Hurricanes have paired a strong offense with a defense that has kept opposing teams under control, which has made their start look sustainable rather than lucky, but the calendar only gets less forgiving from here.
Notre Dame looms as the kind of matchup that can tell everyone whether Miamis unbeaten run is a statement or just a fast start. Other unbeaten teams like Utah and UCLA have their own tricky paths ahead, and projections still point to all three landing in the same neighborhood by seasons end, but for Miami the next test could be the one that defines how serious this season really is. [Read more 🡒]
Belichick Faces A Brutal North Carolina Test At No. 1 Miami
Miami has climbed to No. 1 in the AP Top 25 for the first time since 2002, and the timing only sharpens the spotlight on what comes next. A strong start has pushed the Hurricanes into rarefied territory, backed by a 14-1 run over their last 15 games and powered by a roster that can make almost any Saturday feel like a showcase.
North Carolina arrives with its own history in this matchup, having won the last five meetings, including two against Miami coach Mario Cristobal. The Tar Heels will have to deal with two Heisman Trophy contenders in quarterback Darian Mensah and wide receiver Malachi Toney, both of whom sit near the top of the national statistical picture, which is exactly why this game feels less like a checkpoint and more like a measuring stick. [Read more 🡒]