Malachi Toney’s availability for Miami’s showdown with No. 11 Notre Dame remains up in the air, and the Hurricanes are bracing for the possibility that their star receiver could be limited or unavailable Saturday night in South Bend.
Toney is dealing with an injured ankle, and sources told Pete Thamel and @max_olson that his status for the 7:30 p.m. ET game on NBC is uncertain. Thamel also reported that Toney is expected to press and try to play because of the size of the matchup.
The injury reportedly happened in practice on Wednesday afternoon, which set off the speculation this week about whether he would be able to go. Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald wrote on X that a Miami coach told friends he’s hopeful Malachi will be back tomorrow and play on Saturday, adding that the staff believes the injury is not serious and won’t have long-term effects.
One UM assistant coach also downplayed the injury to associates at midday, though the final call appears to rest with Toney and his camp, who have kept their cards close to the vest.
That kind of uncertainty is nothing new around Toney. He has dealt with a string of minor issues during the 2026 season without missing much time, including upper-body discomfort against Wake Forest, a shoulder issue against Clemson, and lower-leg and ankle concerns against Florida State and Pittsburgh.
He has answered the bell every time. Against Pitt, he limped off after a short catch, spent time in the medical tent, then came back to haul in a 53-yard touchdown and finished with 16 catches for 194 yards and three scores.
That’s been the story with Toney all season: banged up, but still producing at a ridiculous level. Through eight games, the Heisman candidate has 73 receptions for 1,027 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Those numbers have him tied for the Miami single-season touchdown record, and he’s already stacked up five 100-yard games along with multiple-touchdown outings in several contests. He’s also in the Heisman conversation with quarterback Darian Mensah.
Marcus Freeman has already acknowledged what Toney brings, praising his speed, route-running, and competitiveness while pointing back to his debut against Notre Dame last season, when he caught six passes for 82 yards and a touchdown.
If Toney can’t go or is limited, Miami’s offense would have to lean harder on the rest of its receiving group against a Notre Dame defense that has been stingy overall. Senior transfer Cooper Barkate would likely be the first name called after posting 28 catches for 372 yards and four touchdowns. Redshirt freshman Daylyn Upshaw has added 22 receptions for 263 yards and two scores and has flashed when given the chance.
Tight end Elija Lofton could also become more important as an intermediate option, while younger receivers such as Somourian Wingo and others may see more snaps. The ground game, with Mark Fletcher Jr., Javian Mallory, and others, would probably be asked to carry more of the load as well.
None of those options fully replace what Toney does after the catch or the sheer volume he brings, but Miami does have enough depth to keep its offense dangerous if the ankle issue keeps him from being at full strength.
For a team that has started undefeated and is sitting in College Football Playoff position, Toney’s production has been central. And with the receiver having played through nagging injuries all season, his status is one of the biggest things to watch heading into Saturday night.
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