Malachi Toney set a Miami single-game receiving record as the seventh-ranked Miami Hurricanes opened the season with a 45-6 victory over Stanford on Friday at Stanford Stadium.
Miami improved to 1-0 overall and 1-0 in the ACC, while Stanford fell to 1-1 overall and 0-1. The Hurricanes scored at least 20 points for the 20th consecutive game and held Stanford without a touchdown.
“Really proud of our players for coming across the country and staying in preparation and staying focused and certainly efficient and productive on both sides of the ball,” Miami head coach Mario Cristobal said. “Certainly some things that you want to clean up, a couple different looks that were a little bit muddy, that we had a couple of issues with. But I think as the game went on, we rectified those things and certain players stepped up in the absence of others.”
Malachi Toney breaks Miami receiving record
Toney, the reigning ACC Rookie of the Year, caught 12 passes for 234 yards and three touchdowns. He surpassed Eddie Brown’s Miami single-game receiving record of 220 yards, set against Boston College in 1984.
Toney and quarterback Darian Mensah connected on a 23-yard touchdown during Miami’s fourth play from scrimmage. They connected again on a 2-yard scoring play during the Hurricanes’ second drive before adding a 47-yard touchdown in the third quarter that pushed Miami’s lead to 42-6.
“It means a lot, knowing how many greats played at this University,” Toney said. “Just for me to be the player to break that record … it just means a lot, thanks to our Lord and Savior.”
Toney credited the work he and Mensah put in during practice for their quick connection. “That just comes from our practices out there on Greentree,” Toney said. “Before we go 1-0 out here, we have to go 1-0 on Greentree. So, I just felt like we just put on display what we’ve been working on Greentree.”
Darian Mensah directs efficient Miami offense
Mensah completed 27 of 30 passes for a career-high 401 yards and five touchdowns in his first start as a Miami Hurricane. He has thrown at least one touchdown pass in 19 consecutive games, the longest such streak among FBS quarterbacks.
Mensah also became the second quarterback in Miami program history to throw for more than 300 yards in his Miami debut. Cam Ward previously reached that mark with 385 yards against Florida in 2024.
“You can’t draw it up any better. That’s what you want,” Mensah said. “You want to go out and punch a team in the mouth and we did that.”
Miami totaled 549 yards, averaged 8.2 yards per play and had 12 players catch passes from Mensah or Luke Nickel. Cooper Barkate added four catches for 67 yards, including a 34-yard touchdown reception.
Mark Fletcher Jr. and Marty Brown combined for 77 rushing yards, and Brown scored a touchdown. The performance gave Miami a balanced offensive effort in its first game of the season.
Miami defense keeps Stanford out of end zone
Miami held Stanford to 299 yards and two field goals without allowing a touchdown. Marquise Lightfoot led the Hurricanes with nine tackles, while Mohamed Toure had five tackles.
Zechariah Poyser and Kellen Wiley Jr. each finished with four tackles. The defensive performance kept Stanford from finding the end zone in the season opener.
“I’d say it was just the standard of our defense,” Lightfoot said. “We knew what we came in working for and we accomplished it. Still a lot more work to do, but I’m glad we got our feet wet and left with a dub.”
“I’d say the same thing, really. Like he said, it’s really the standard of our defense. That’s the standard of our defense. That’s the expectations we have for ourselves, so we just try to go out there and dominate to the best of our ability,” Poyser said.
Miami Hurricanes prepare for Florida A&M
Miami will host Florida A&M at Hard Rock Stadium on Thursday in its home opener. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m.
The short week follows a road victory in which Miami produced 549 yards, scored 45 points and held Stanford without a touchdown. Mensah said the Hurricanes were ready to move on to the next game.
“Yeah, it feels good to 1-0. We preach it all the time,” Mensah said. “Short week coming up, home opener. [It’s] going to be exciting. … Just ready to get back to work.”
FSB Take
Miami’s season opener featured a record-setting receiving performance from Toney, an efficient debut from Mensah and a defense that kept Stanford out of the end zone. The Hurricanes also extended their run of games with at least 20 points to 20.
Miami now faces a short turnaround before hosting Florida A&M at Hard Rock Stadium. The home opener is scheduled for Thursday at 8 p.m.
Source: Original report