Duke’s path through the ACC just got a little clearer, and the timing could not be better.
The Blue Devils are getting ready for NC State this week, but the bigger picture is already staring them in the face: a matchup with Miami next week that could carry major weight in the conference race. Duke is 6-2 and still has plenty on the line, including a shot at the ACC title.
Miami, meanwhile, took a hit that could ripple through the rest of the season. Star Malachi Toney suffered a high ankle sprain in practice on Wednesday and will have surgery, putting his availability against Duke in serious doubt. The usual recovery window for that kind of injury is four weeks, which would likely keep him out of the game.
That’s a big loss for the Hurricanes because Toney has been the engine of their offense. He has 73 catches for 1,027 yards and 13 touchdowns this season, and he has topped 100 all-purpose yards in six of eight games. Miami has moved him around in a variety of ways, and his explosiveness has been a huge part of what makes the attack so dangerous.
The injury comes just before Miami prepares to face Notre Dame, and it could carry real consequences beyond that one game. The Hurricanes are 8-0 and sitting atop the ACC, but a road loss to Notre Dame would shake up the conference picture and potentially give a team like Duke a real opening.
Duke still has work to do before it can even think about Miami. NC State is first, and then the Blue Devils will turn to the Hurricanes. They also have Wake Forest later in the year, another team sitting ahead of them in the standings.
Still, this is the kind of break that can change the feel of a season. Duke has been trying to climb back into the ACC race, and if it can keep winning, the door to the College Football Playoff is still there.
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For the Hurricanes, the bigger issue may be how they adjust if Toney is unavailable again, not just for this game but for the rest of the regular season and potentially the College Football Playoffs. Notre Dame also expects All-American cornerback Leonard Moore back after he missed recent games with a concussion, adding another layer to a game plan that already has to account for one major unknown on Miamis side. [Read more 🡒]
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The Hurricanes also know they will see Notre Dame without wide receiver Malachi Toney, who is out after ankle surgery and expected to miss 4 to 6 weeks. Even with that setback, the bigger pressure point is on the Irish, who need a win in Miami to strengthen their playoff case before the schedule offers fewer chances to recover from another loss. For a team already facing scrutiny from the committee, this is the kind of game that can reshape the conversation quickly. [Read more 🡒]
Darian Mensahs Huge Season Has Sparked A Real NFL Draft Debate
Darian Mensah has done just about everything a quarterback can do to force his way into the NFL conversation. Through eight games, Miamis signal-caller has thrown 25 touchdowns against just one interception while completing more than 80 percent of his passes, a run that has made him one of the most efficient passers in the country and a big reason his name is drawing so much attention beyond Coral Gables.
The debate now is less about whether Mensah belongs on draft boards and more about where he fits. Some analysts view him as a top prospect, while others have pushed him outside the first round, pointing to questions about his arm strength and the level of competition he has faced. For Miami, it is a reminder that a big season can change the conversation fast, even if the final verdict on a quarterback is still very much up in the air. [Read more 🡒]