Pat McAfee and Michael Irvin in awe as Hurricanes star’s ‘biblical’ numbers launch Heisman Trophy campaign

Malachi Toney has put the college football world on notice.

The Miami Hurricanes wide receiver exploded out of the blocks to begin the 2026 campaign with 234 receiving yards and three touchdowns from 12 receptions in the Canes’ 45-6 win over Stanford on Friday night.

Getty

This figure broke Eddie Brown’s single-game Miami record which had stood since 1984, per Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press, and he did so in just three quarters of play.

He also had more receiving yards by himself than Stanford had as a team by the end of the third quarter (197), putting on a show in front of none other than Canes and Dallas Cowboys legend Michael Irvin.

But this was no anomaly for Toney.

The 18-year-old dominated in his Freshman season, recording 1,211 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns in 16 games as Miami reached the National Championship Game, albeit narrowly losing to the 2026 NFL Draft No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza and the Indiana Hoosiers.

His 109 receptions also led the country.

But the star receiver has made his intentions clear – he is going for the Heisman Trophy this year.

After scoring his first touchdown on Miami’s opening drive against the Cardinals, Toney celebrated in the end zone and hit the Heisman Trophy pose.

He also scored the second touchdown on the Canes’ second drive of the game and hit the pose again, before making it a triple celebration when he scored his third touchdown in the third quarter.

Toney’s performance sparked attention all over social media, as did quarterback Darian Mensah who finished his Miami debut with 401 yards and five touchdowns.

“Malachi Toney is absurd. His body control and lateral explosiveness make him an elite route runner. It’s also insane that his ball skills are just as impressive (only a 0.9% drop rate as a freshman),” one fan wrote on social media.

“Malachi Toney can’t be guarded 1v1,” another commented, as a third added, “Malachi Toney is having one of the greatest games in the history of College Football.”

Getty

Getty

Pat McAfee was one of a number of NFL media members who weighed in with their thoughts, posting to X: “Miami’s Malachi Toney on pace to win The Heisman.. these numbers are about to be biblical for Baby Jesus.”

“Malachi Toney is completely unguardable. I mean, these corners are beaten after his second step time and time again. Special player,” Trevor Sikkema noted.

Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal knows what a talent he has in Toney, and has never shied away from praising him.

“All you can really say is that guy is special. I’ve never seen anything like him,” Cristobal said during an ACC media day back in July. “Normally a receiver with his talent and production is a diva.

“He’s the total opposite. He produces at a high level and he only becomes hungrier to get better, work harder, and somehow he gets more humble.

“He can do it all. He can go deep, he can create explosives in the quick game, you can give him the ball as a runner, you can let him throw the ball, he is a tremendous blocker, he can return punts—he does it all.

“Special player and elite human being.”

Although only one game into the new season, Toney is already showing all of the above, and his next opportunity to take to the field is the game against Florida A&M on Friday.