Miami came up just short in the national championship game, falling by six points. But if there was one undeniable bright spot in that loss-and really, all season-it was Malachi Toney.
The true freshman wideout didn’t just make an impression; he rewrote the Hurricanes’ record books. Over 1,200 receiving yards, more catches than anyone in program history, and a presence that demanded attention every time he lined up.
Toney wasn’t just a rising star-he was the star of Mario Cristobal’s offense.
Now, just days after the season’s end, that star is on the move.
On Tuesday, Toney’s mother, Statravia Toney, confirmed that her son plans to enter the transfer portal. The news came fast-and for Miami fans, it came with a sting.
Just 48 hours earlier, Statravia had clapped back at a fan on social media who floated the idea of Malachi heading to Ohio State. “Don’t get it twisted, we’re home,” she posted.
But by Tuesday, “home” had shifted. The top schools on Toney’s radar now?
Ohio State, USF, and Florida.
This kind of turnaround isn’t just jarring-it’s emblematic of the new era of college football. NIL money, transfer windows, and player mobility have reshaped the landscape, and Tuesday marked the opening of a five-day portal window for Miami and Indiana players following the title game. Toney has until Saturday to make his move official, but the writing’s already on the wall.
The freshman phenom set an ACC record with 109 receptions this season and found the end zone 10 times. He was a matchup nightmare all year and a cornerstone of Miami’s game plan. Losing him isn’t just losing a playmaker-it’s losing a focal point of the offense, someone the Hurricanes had pegged as their top priority behind the quarterback for next year.
And it’s not like Miami wasn’t trying to keep him. According to reports, the school was ready to offer a massive raise-one that would have placed him among the highest-paid receivers in the country in 2026.
Think along the lines of what Texas gave Cam Coleman or what Ohio State is shelling out for Jeremiah Smith. One source put it bluntly: “Whatever number you had in mind … more.”
Toney had already begun building his brand off the field, too. He signed a deal with Leaf Trading Cards and became the first college athlete to partner with Hellstar, a luxury apparel company based in Los Angeles. The opportunities were stacking up fast, and Miami was all-in on keeping him.
But now, Cristobal and his staff are staring down what might be their biggest roster loss yet. This is more than just a name in the portal-it’s a foundational piece of the offense, a hometown kid from Fort Lauderdale who chose Miami over Ohio State out of high school to rep his city. And now, two years later, he’s circling back to the very program he once passed on.
Whether it came down to NIL, playing time, or simply a desire for a new start, one thing’s clear: Malachi Toney’s departure is a gut punch for a Miami team that was on the cusp of a national title. And for the programs in pursuit-Ohio State, Florida, USF-this is a rare shot at landing a game-changing talent with three years of eligibility left.
The portal window is open. And Malachi Toney just became the most coveted name in it.