Malachi Toney, Miami's top receiver, to undergo ankle surgery before Notre Dame game
Miami star receiver Malachi Toney will have surgery on a high-ankle sprain, with the team hoping for a return in four to six weeks in time for the College Football Playoff.
Miami's standout receiver Malachi Toney is set to undergo ankle surgery after getting hurt at Wednesday's practice, a development that puts the top-ranked Hurricanes' offense under serious strain before a difficult road trip to Notre Dame. The team has said Toney is under medical evaluation and that updates will follow.
Sources have diagnosed Toney with a high-ankle sprain, and the planned procedure is a so-called TightRope surgery. Miami is hoping Toney can return in four to six weeks, which would put him back in time for the College Football Playoff. Observers following the program have described that timeline as optimistic, given how long injuries of this kind typically take to heal.
Toney is one of the most productive players on the roster and a Heisman contender. Through the season he has recorded 1,027 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns on 73 catches, making him the focal point of Miami's passing game. Losing him for an extended stretch leaves the Hurricanes leaning heavily on Mensah, who is now the team's most important remaining offensive playmaker. Miami's offense has been built around a receiver who combines volume and scoring, and the drop-off in that role is the central concern facing the staff.
The injury has also changed how the matchup is viewed. Miami enters the game as the No. 1 team in the CFP rankings but is an underdog on the road against Notre Dame. The point spread moved from Notre Dame plus five to plus 6.5 after news of Toney's injury, a sign that oddsmakers are factoring his absence into their expectations. The line shift reflects a market judgment rather than any change in the teams' records, and it underscores how much weight the public and bettors place on a single player's availability.
The injury also raises a broader question about Miami's standing. Should Toney miss several weeks, the Hurricanes will have to show they can win without their top receiver, and the committee's view of the team could be tested if results slip in his absence. Miami's position at the top of the rankings rests on its season to date, and the coming weeks will show whether that résumé holds up without its most productive pass catcher on the field.
Notre Dame, ranked 11th in the first CFP poll, has its own case to make. The Fighting Irish have yet to pick up a signature win, and their only loss against a Top-25 opponent came at BYU. Their best win on a neutral field came against Wisconsin. CFP chairman Hunter Yurachek has said Saturday's game gives Notre Dame a chance to strengthen its résumé, a point that frames the matchup as an opportunity for the Irish as much as a test for Miami. The Irish still have Boston College, SMU and Syracuse left on their schedule, and a win over the No. 1 team would give them the kind of marquee result they have so far lacked.
Source: foxnews.com
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