This is the news Miami fans absolutely did not want to wake up to three days before Notre Dame.
It’s 6.30am and I’m out walking the dog, still trying to get my head around this. Last night I was getting ready to record a podcast with the AAW Network when the first reports started coming through that Mali had been injured. By the time I’d finished recording, conflicting stories were circulating and it was hard to know just how serious things were. Then I woke up this morning to breaking news notifications on my phone saying he’d suffered a high ankle sprain and needed surgery. Not remotely what I wanted to see ahead of Notre Dame.
Malachi Toney has suffered a high ankle sprain and is set to undergo surgery. The Associated Press reported the diagnosis overnight, while Reuters says the star receiver will miss Saturday’s trip to South Bend and is expected to be sidelined for at least four weeks.
Miami have officially confirmed that Toney was injured during Wednesday’s practice and was undergoing further evaluation. The university has not announced a recovery timetable, so the reported four-to-six-week window is not a confirmed return date. There is hope he could be back for the College Football Playoff, but that is a long way from a guarantee.
You cannot simply replace Malachi Toney
There is no clever way of dressing this up. Losing Toney is a massive blow to an offence that has relied on him throughout its unbeaten start.
Through eight games, he has 73 receptions, 1,027 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns. He leads the Hurricanes in all three categories and has been Darian Mensah’s most dependable target, whether Miami need a third-down conversion or something explosive.
We saw that again in Chapel Hill. Toney caught seven passes for 75 yards and two touchdowns, including the late score that helped Miami escape North Carolina with a 38-35 victory.
Time for Miami’s depth to step up
Now offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson has to find answers, and quickly. Cooper Barkate looks an obvious candidate for more targets, especially given his existing connection with Mensah. Daylyn Upshaw may have a bigger role, while Elija Lofton’s versatility gives Miami another way to create mismatches.
Mark Fletcher Jr., Javian Mallory and the running game could also take on greater responsibility. But this cannot be about asking one receiver to become Toney overnight. Miami need several players to replace different parts of what he brings.
It is a serious test for Mensah, too. He has been outstanding this season, but now faces Notre Dame’s defence without the player who has done so much to make the passing game work. Trusting his other targets and avoiding forced throws will matter.
The Hurricanes remain 8-0 and No. 1 in the first College Football Playoff rankings. Notre Dame are No. 11 in those rankings, although fourth in the AP poll. The opportunity in South Bend has not changed. The challenge certainly has.
The Last Word from Across the Pond
There is no point pretending this is anything other than a huge setback. Toney has been central to Miami’s season, and losing him just before Notre Dame feels particularly cruel. First and foremost, hopefully his surgery goes well and his recovery is straightforward. For Miami, though, Saturday is still coming. Mensah, Barkate, Upshaw, Lofton and the running backs now have to show why Cristobal has spent years building depth into this squad. Championship seasons rarely go exactly to plan. We are about to find out how this team responds when the plan changes.
