Wide receiver Malachi Toney’s rapid rise has Miami on the brink of a national title

Story byAssociated PressSat, January 17, 2026 at 11:50 PM UTC·4 min readMIAMI BEACH, Fla. — Malachi Toney was just 17 years old when he introduced himself to the college football world by hauling in a 28-yard touchdown pass in Miami’s season-opening win against Notre Dame, then turning and blowing a kiss to Hurricanes fans at Hard Rock Stadium. Both quarterback Carson Beck and coach Mario Cristobal referred to Toney as a secret weapon after that game, hoping Toney’s skills could remain under the radar for just a little while longer. But since that moment — and after one of the best seasons ever by a freshman — the Hurricanes’ dynamic receiver is far from a secret. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“Malachi is one of the best, not even just wide receivers, just players in general that I’ve ever played with,” Beck said Saturday.