Miami wide receiver Malachi Toney entered the 2026 college football season as a Heisman Trophy contender after a breakout freshman campaign, and the Hurricanes star immediately proved his case Friday night.
Toney scored three touchdowns in No. 7 Miami’s 45-6 season-opening victory at Stanford, and he repeatedly made his ambitions clear by flashing the Heisman Trophy pose on all three of his trips to the end zone.
The wideout scored Miami’s first touchdown on a 23-yard pass from new Hurricanes quarterback Darian Mensah. After reaching the end zone, the sophomore receiver immediately broke out the Heisman stance.
Toney did it again following his second touchdown, which came on a two-yard reception with 2:53 left in the first quarter. The Hurricanes wide receiver completed the hat trick in the third quarter on a 47-yard touchdown from Mensah and once again celebrated with the Heisman pose.
Toney’s three scores accompanied a record-setting performance, as he finished with 12 receptions for 234 yards, breaking the Hurricanes’ single-game receiving record previously held by Eddie Brown, who recorded 220 yards in 1984.
The sophomore’s huge opening night follows a freshman season in which Toney led the FBS with 109 receptions, racking up 1,211 receiving yards and scoring 10 touchdowns, both the highest totals among ACC players.
Toney is pursuing Miami history this season, as only two Hurricanes, both quarterbacks, have won the Heisman Trophy: Vinny Testaverde in 1986 and Gino Torretta in 1992.
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According to the latest odds released by FanDuel, Toney is tied for seventh at +2000 in the Heisman race while teammate Mensah is the leading candidate to earn the award at +550.
Toney and Miami next host Florida A&M on Thursday at 8 p.m. ET on ACC Network.
