Malachi Toney’s national honor gives Heisman voters something else to think about

Malachi Toney had another game for the ages in the Miami Hurricanes' 52-23 win over Pitt, and he was properly rewarded by being named the AP National Player of the Week for the second time this season.

Toney got off to a hot start and did not stop until he accumulated 16 catches for 194 yards and three touchdowns against a Panthers team that swore they had a plan for him. Maybe that plan was for Toney to catch everything and become a major player in the Heisman Trophy race. If so, mission accomplished!

It's the second time that Toney has secured the award this season. He also won it in Week 1 after his record-setting 234-yard performance against Stanford. Toney's 16 catches on Saturday broke his single-game record of 13 catches that he set last year against Pitt. And the Panthers will be on the Hurricanes schedule again next season, so who knows what kind of numbers the future All-American will post. 

“He has the trust of the entire organization, certainly the quarterback," Cristobal said about Toney after Saturday's game. "There’s not a guy in the country that's more dependable than Malachi Toney.”

Malachi Toney continues his quick climb toward Miami records

Toney passed the 2,000-yard mark on Saturday and his 194 yards pushed him past Leonard Hankerson for seventh on the all-time receiving yards list with 2,163 yards. The all-time record is held by Xavier Restrepo with 2,844 yards. With five games left on the schedule, there's no question that the mark is in jeopardy and, with an extended postseason run, Toney could surpass the 3,000-yard mark.

And what often gets lost in the shuffle is that Toney is doing all of this in his second year with the Hurricanes. Except for Michael Irvin, all the players ahead of him on the list did it over four seasons. Toney is also just 19 years old.

Top 10 Miami wide receivers by yards

1. Xavier Restrepo (2020-24) 2,844
2, Santana Moss (1997-2000) 2,547
3. Reggie Wayne (1997-2000) 2,510
4. Michael Irvin (1985-87) 2,423
5. Lamar Thomas (1989-92) 2,271
6. Stacy Coley (2013-16) 2,222
7. Malachi Toney (2025-26) 2,163
8. Leonard Hankerson (2007-10) 2,160
9. Mike Harley (2017-21) 2,158
10. Travis Benjamin (2008-11) 2,146

Malachi Toney's Heisman odds have never been better

After Saturday's performance, the oddsmakers moved Toney into the top 3 at +370. Only Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith (+120) and teammate Darian Mensah (+290) are ahead of Toney in what's become a three-man race. Miami isn't choosing sides here, and has decided to release a Heisman campaign spotlighting both Hurricanes.

Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

Toney has always been about the team and team accomplishments, so the idea of a marketing campaign for an individual award is not his thing. But, the recognition and the respect he has from his peers and coaches around the nation has to mean something. 

There have been many occasions where teammates were named Heisman finalists and eventually one tends to emerge as the clear leader. Both players are chasing Smith, but with Buckeyes starting quarterback Julian Sayin sidelined, this race could be wide open heading into the final month of the regular season. 

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