Miami’s Malachi Toney and Notre Dame’s Leonard Moore are set for a head-to-head matchup Saturday night at Notre Dame Stadium, a subplot to the No. 1 Hurricanes’ game against the No. 4 Fighting Irish. Miami is 8-0 and Notre Dame is 7-1, and the game carries major College Football Playoff implications.
Toney is the Hurricanes’ top receiver and a Heisman Trophy candidate. He has 182 catches since the start of last season, the most in college football. Moore is a unanimous All-American from last season and is widely viewed as one of the best defensive players in the country. The Notre Dame defense ranks first nationally.
Both coaches praised each other this week. Miami offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson called Moore an elite player with a humble approach. Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman said Toney is “one of one.”
The two players have history. Toney caught a touchdown in Miami’s 27-24 win over Notre Dame last season, a game that helped decide the last at-large spot in the playoff field. Toney had six catches for 82 yards in that game.
Toney is also close to a school milestone. His next catch would move him into sole possession of the No. 2 spot on Miami’s all-time list. Toney said he views the matchup as a chance to improve.
For South Florida fans, the game is a national showcase for two of the state’s most closely watched programs, and Miami’s position at the top of the rankings makes the outcome a major talking point across the region.
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