Malachi Toney back in action tonight after historic Miami performance

Malachi Toney back in action tonight after historic Miami performance

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Malachi Toney back in action tonight after historic Miami performance
Malachi Toney Miami

Malachi Toney back in action tonight after historic Miami performance originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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Malachi Toney did not simply begin his sophomore season with a strong performance. He delivered one of the greatest receiving games in Miami football history. Now, college football fans will get another chance to watch the Hurricanes’ electric wide receiver when No. 7 Miami hosts Florida A&M on Thursday night at Hard Rock Stadium.

The game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. ET and will be televised on ACC Network.

Toney enters the matchup as one of the biggest stories in the sport after catching 12 passes for 234 yards and three touchdowns in Miami’s 45-6 season-opening victory over Stanford. According to ESPN, his 234 receiving yards established a new single-game record for the Hurricanes.

That is quite a way to begin a season filled with enormous expectations.

Malachi Toney made Miami history against Stanford

Toney’s performance against the Cardinal was spectacular from beginning to end. The sophomore averaged 19.5 yards per reception, produced a long catch of 48 yards and repeatedly found open space in Stanford’s secondary. His three receiving touchdowns tied Miami’s single-game program record.

Toney also erased a record that had stood for more than four decades. Eddie Brown previously held Miami’s single-game receiving mark after recording 220 yards against Boston College in 1984. It took Toney only one game in his new No. 1 jersey to move past him.

The performance earned Toney ACC Receiver of the Week honors, but his touchdown celebrations generated nearly as much attention as the record. Toney struck the Heisman Trophy pose after each of his three scores, making it perfectly clear that he is not running away from the national spotlight.

He will have an opportunity to strengthen his early Heisman case Thursday.

Florida A&M enters the game with a 1-1 record and now faces the unenviable assignment of slowing down a receiver who looked almost impossible to cover in Miami’s opener.

The matchup could also provide Miami with an opportunity to experiment with Toney’s role. Offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson has previously discussed moving him around the formation, and Toney’s versatile background gives the Hurricanes plenty of options.

He recorded 23 rushing attempts and even completed four passes during the 2025 season. That versatility means Florida A&M cannot assume Toney will remain in one position throughout Thursday night’s game.

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Toney already looks like one of college football’s biggest stars

Toney’s opening performance was not an isolated breakout from an unknown player. He led the FBS with 109 receptions last season while setting a Miami single-season record with 1,211 receiving yards. He also scored 10 receiving touchdowns and played a central role in the Hurricanes’ run to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game.

Toney caught 10 passes for 122 yards and a touchdown against Indiana in the title game. Miami fell short of the championship, but its young receiver proved he was ready to produce on the biggest stage in college football. Toney has now carried that momentum into his second season.

Through one game, he is tied for the national lead with 12 receptions, leads the country with 234 receiving yards and is tied for first with three receiving touchdowns. Those numbers will be difficult to maintain, but Toney has already shown that his freshman success was only the beginning.

Thursday night’s game is unlikely to test Miami the way its biggest ACC matchups will later in the season. It still represents another chance for Toney to add to a remarkable start and give fans another reminder that one of college football’s most entertaining players is back in action.

After breaking a 42-year-old Miami record in his first appearance of 2026, the question is no longer whether Toney can become a national star.

It is what he will do next.

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