No. 1 Miami just got hit with a gut punch, but there’s a glimmer of hope: star receiver Malachi Toney underwent ankle surgery this week and is expected to miss four to six weeks. That means the electric sophomore is out for the rest of the regular season, but the Hurricanes are seriously hoping he makes it back to chase a national championship in the postseason. This isn’t just a bump in the road, this is *massive* for their title dreams.
The Road Back to Glory
Toney suffered a high-ankle sprain in practice, a brutal blow that immediately ruled him out for the rest of November. But here’s the kicker: sources are saying the early expectation for his return timetable has him back for the postseason. We’re talking anywhere from four to six weeks for recovery. If he nails that four-week mark, he could be ready for the ACC Championship Game. Even if it takes the full six weeks, that’s still plenty of time to get him healthy for the College Football Playoff, with the first round kicking off on December 18. And if Miami snags a top-four seed and gets that first-round bye? He wouldn’t even play until December 30 at the earliest. Honestly, depending on how Miami’s regular season finishes, risking him in the ACC title game might be more trouble than it’s worth. Get him ready for the big dance.
Mensah’s Moment and the Next Man Up
Before this injury, Toney wasn’t just good, he was a flat-out Heisman candidate. He leads the ACC in receptions with 73, receiving yards with 1,027, and receiving touchdowns with 13. Those are monster numbers! So, yeah, someone needs to step up. The most obvious candidate is Duke transfer Cooper Barkate, who’s gonna have some huge shoes to fill. Good thing Miami has another Heisman contender under center, Darian Mensah. This dude has been ridiculous, throwing for 25 touchdowns against just one interception. Facing No. 11 Notre Dame on the road this Saturday is probably Mensah’s toughest test all season, but he’s made everything look easy so far, hasn’t he? Losing Toney definitely takes some of the shine off tonight’s matchup, but let’s be real, it’s still one of the biggest games of the season.
Miami’s got a huge test on Saturday against No. 11 Notre Dame. The Hurricanes desperately need that win for wiggle room while Toney’s out all November, and Notre Dame desperately needs a signature win after getting ranked No. 11. Can Mensah keep making it look easy without his top target? We’ll find out. But you better believe every Miami fan is gonna be watching that ankle recovery like a hawk, hoping their Heisman-level star is back to lead them on a championship run. The path to the playoffs just got a whole lot more interesting.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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