Malachi Toney’s first year with the Miami Hurricanes rewrote record books and raised expectations for the Canes team heading into 2026.
As the team’s top offensive weapon, the freshman wide receiver led Miami to the College Football Playoff national championship game, finishing with 109 receptions, 1,211 receiving yards, and 10 touchdowns, all three figures topping the ACC leaderboards.
The 109 receptions set an ACC record for freshmen, while the 1,211 yards are now the most by a freshman in Miami history.
Even in Miami’s title-game 27-21 loss to the Indiana Hoosiers, Toney hauled in 10 catches for 122 yards and a score.
Ultimately, Toney's production earned him the FWAA Offensive Freshman of the Year title from the Football Writers Association of America, about a month after he already earned the ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year honor.
Toney's impact on the field will inevitably have an impact off of it, as reported by CBS Sports’ Brad Crawford on Tuesday. According to sources speaking to CBS Sports, Toney is expected to sign a new NIL contract that would position him among the highest-paid receivers in college football.
“Toney’s set for a major increase in NIL compensation with a contract expected to make him one of the highest-paid players nationally at his position in 2026,” Crawford reported, citing a source close to the negotiations.
Currently, On3 lists Toney’s NIL value at $1.3 million. That figure, however, will soon be outdated.
Crawford noted that Toney’s next deal could rival the compensation of new Texas Longhorns wideout Cam Coleman, who, according to On3's Shannon Terry, would be making "$3 to $3.5 million" after his transfer from Auburn.
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“Whatever number you had in mind… more,” a source told CBS Sports before the title game, as reported by Crawford.
Keeping Toney on the roster became Miami’s top offseason priority following his freshman explosion as a true freshman with the Hurricanes.
“Toney was Miami’s ‘first priority outside of quarterback’ for its 2026 roster plan,” Crawford wrote.
The Hurricanes finished the year with a 13-3 record and finished the 2025 season ranked No. 2 nationally in the final AP Top 25 College Football poll, only trailing the Hoosiers.