Miami’s Malachi Toney may miss Saturday’s massive game against Notre Dame.
ESPN reported Wednesday that the star wide receiver is “uncertain” to play with an injured ankle.
“Toney is expected to press and attempt to play, given the magnitude of the game,” college football insider Pete Thamel wrote on X.
The injury is “not expected to be a long-term setback.”
The Hurricanes’ sophomore has emerged as one of the best pass-catchers in the nation, hauling in 73 receptions for 1,027 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Toney’s play has put him into the Heisman Trophy conversation, entering the week with the third-shortest odds at +325 at BetMGM Sportsbook to win the award, trailing teammate and quarterback Darian Mensah and Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith.
He continued his remarkable season last weekend against North Carolina, catching seven passes for 75 yards and two touchdowns.
Toney enjoyed a breakout performance against the Fighting Irish in last season’s opener, catching six passes for 82 yards and a touchdown in Miami’s 27-24 victory.
The Toney news comes one day after undefeated Miami was named the No. 1 team in the country in the first College Football Playoff rankings of the season.
The Fighting Irish, 7-1, having fallen to No. 9 BYU late last month, debuted at No. 11 in the rankings.
A win for Notre Dame would keep it in the hunt for a College Football Playoff berth, while a loss would likely leave the Irish on the outside looking in with with less than a month left in the regular season.
