Miami Star Malachi Toney Faces Ankle Surgery, Misses Notre Dame

Malachi Toney, the leading receiver for the No. 1 Miami Hurricanes, will undergo surgery for a high ankle sprain and sit out for several weeks, a person with knowledge of the matter said Wednesday night. The player has been placed on the sideline, removing one of the nation’s most dynamic offensive threats from the roster just days before a critical conference matchup.

The Hurricanes, who stand 8-0, face the No. 4 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (7-1) on Saturday. Miami confirmed earlier in the day that Toney suffered the injury during a morning practice session. The athletic department stated the player is undergoing further evaluation by medical staff and will release updates as they become available. Neither the team nor the player had publicly disclosed the surgical plan prior to the report.

Toney has managed ankle issues earlier this season without missing a game. He has appeared in all 24 contests since enrolling at Miami last year. His production is central to the Hurricanes' offensive output, accounting for 35% of team catches, 39% of receiving yards, and 46% of touchdown receptions. He currently ranks second in the Football Bowl Subdivision with 73 catches and is tied for second with 13 touchdown receptions.

Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman praised Toney earlier in the week, calling him as good as anyone in the sport. The Irish field the nation’s top-ranked defense and enter the game with a strong defensive lineup. The matchup had been anticipated as a test of elite individual talent, particularly between Toney and Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore. This contest serves as a rematch of a Week 1 game from last season that Miami won, a result that helped secure the Hurricanes a playoff berth.

Miami has no bye weeks remaining in the regular season. Following the Notre Dame game, the Hurricanes play Duke on Nov. 14, Virginia Tech on Nov. 21, and Boston College on Nov. 28. If the team secures a spot in the ACC championship game on Dec. 5, they could face another opponent before the national tournament. The College Football Playoff begins on Dec. 18, with top seeds potentially waiting until Dec. 30 for their first game.

Toney holds several school records and is chasing historical marks. He broke the single-game receiving record with 234 yards at Stanford and the single-game reception record with 16 catches against Pitt. His 2,238 career receiving yards rank sixth all-time at Miami, and his 23 career touchdowns are three short of Michael Irvin’s school record. He is also 18 catches away from matching Xavier Restrepo’s all-time record of 200 receptions.