Notre Dame preparing for injured WR Toney, Miami's other 'great players'

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  Adam RittenbergNov 5, 2026, 01:00 PM ET

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  College football reporter; joined ESPN in 2008. Graduate of Northwestern University.

Notre Dame is preparing for multiple scenarios against Miami's offense in Saturday's game following the ankle injury to Hurricanes star wide receiver Malachi Toney.

Fighting Irish coach Marcus Freeman said the 11th-ranked Irish must be ready if Toney plays and also need a plan if he misses the game. Sources told ESPN's Pete Thamel that Toney is having surgery for a high ankle sprain that will sideline him for the Notre Dame game and likely several more weeks, with a potential return in the postseason. Miami in a statement Wednesday acknowledged Toney's injury but did not provide more specifics.

"We started prepping on Sunday, and you've got to have a plan for a dynamic player like that," Freeman said Thursday. "We'll see if he plays or not. If he doesn't, how we'll adjust, they've got great players. I'm not saying one person's going to replace Malachi Toney, but they have got a lot of great players on their team and they're going to find ways to get the best players on the field. And so we're going to have a good plan and be able to adjust to whatever happens on Saturday and whoever we see."

Freeman learned about Toney's injury following practice Wednesday, while some of his staff members found out earlier in the day. Toney had six receptions for 82 yards and a touchdown last year against the Irish, as he made his collegiate debut in Miami's 27-24 home win.

He leads the top-ranked Hurricanes in receptions (73), receiving yards (1,027) and receiving touchdowns (13). Cooper Barkate, transfer from Duke alongside quarterback Darian Mensah, is second on the team with 28 receptions for 372 yards and four touchdowns.

"What's the one person that's going to come in [for Toney]? I don't know," Freeman said. "They've got a long list of guys that they can put on the field to be the 11th player. It's not always the position as much as it is the player. There's players all over. There's great running backs, there's good tight ends, there's good young wide receivers who can step up. Whatever it is their plan will be on Saturday, we have to be ready to adjust."

Notre Dame will be without linebacker Drayk Bowen (ankle), while safety Brauntae Johnson (foot) and cornerback DJ McKinney (ankle) remain sidelined. Defensive linemen Francis Brewu (knee) and Jason Onye (knee) are both questionable for the Miami game.