No. 11 Notre Dame is still getting ready for the possibility that Miami’s biggest weapon shows up Saturday night.
Even with reports that No. 1 Miami will be without wide receiver Malachi Toney for the foreseeable future, Fighting Irish coach Marcus Freeman said Thursday he isn’t changing how he approaches the matchup. Notre Dame is treating Toney like a player who could still be on the field in the prime-time game.
“I heard about [Toney's injury] after practice,” Freeman said. “The thing that comes to mind is we have to continously have a plan for if he’s playing and make sure our guys are ready. [At the same time], we need to have a plan for if he’s not playing.”
Miami said the Liberty City, Fla., native suffered a high ankle sprain in Wednesday’s practice, after taking part in Tuesday’s full media session. Toney reportedly had tightrope surgery on Thursday, a procedure that usually means about four to six weeks of recovery. There’s a chance he could be back for the College Football Playoffs, but Saturday is considered highly unlikely.
Because this is a non-conference game, there will be no official injury report from the ACC, and Notre Dame is an independent program anyway.
The loss would be a major one for Miami. Toney has been one of college football’s most dangerous playmakers, piling up 1,157 all-purpose yards this season with 73 catches on 85 targets and 13 touchdowns. He’s the Hurricanes’ go-to option, a sharp route runner who can change direction in a flash and consistently creates space from defenders.
If Notre Dame is still preparing for the chance Toney plays, that also points to a possible return for All-American cornerback Leonard Moore. The 21-year-old has missed two of the last four games, sitting out Stanford and Navy after suffering a concussion against UNC on Oct. 3.
Moore is expected back against Miami on Saturday and is not listed on Notre Dame’s injury report. If Toney is out, Moore would likely line up against redshirt senior Cooper Barkate, whose role is expected to grow. Daylyn Upshaw, Vandrevius Jacobs, Somourian Wingo, and Vance Spafford are also candidates to take on bigger roles.
Without Toney, Miami’s offense will have to keep adjusting for at least the final four games of the regular season, with the College Football Playoffs still in play.
In Other News...
Miami Now Gets A Notre Dame Team With Everything To Lose
Notre Dames playoff positioning already has a strange look to it, sitting 11th in the first College Football Playoff rankings despite being fourth in the AP poll. The reason is pretty clear: the committee has not been sold on the Irishs resume, and the lack of signature wins has left little margin for error as the season tightens. Now the next stop brings a trip to No. 1 Miami, and for a team trying to prove it belongs in the top tier, the timing could hardly be more demanding.
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 🡒]
Miami Suddenly Faces A Bigger Problem Than Just Losing Malachi Toney
Malachi Toneys high ankle sprain already put Miami in a difficult spot, but the bigger concern around the Hurricanes now is how quickly the injury list has become a season-altering issue. Toney will miss at least four to six weeks after surgery, and for a Miami team trying to keep its offense on track, losing a player of his importance changes the feel of what comes next.
The concern only grows when you look around the college football landscape and see how injuries have hit the other faces of the EA Sports College Football 27 cover. Dante Moore is out for the season after a concussion, while Kewan Lacy is sidelined after dislocating his shoulder, a reminder that the sport can turn fast and leave even marquee names scrambling. For Miami, the immediate challenge is no longer just replacing one playmaker, but managing the ripple effect of losing him for a significant stretch. [Read more 🡒]