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By Matthew Couden
Contributing Writer
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The Notre Dame Fighting Irish have a massive matchup approaching against the Miami Hurricanes, but an unexpected injury development involving star receiver Malachi Toney could impact this major showdown.
ESPN's Pete Thamel initially reported on Wednesday that Toney was dealing with an ankle injury and would "press and attempt to play" against the Fighting Irish. However, a later injury update arrived, indicating Toney would undergo surgery and miss multiple weeks of the season.
That could give 7-1 Notre Dame, which was ranked No. 11 in the first College Football Playoff rankings, a huge opportunity to hand the Hurricanes their first loss of the season. It would potentially boost the Fighting Irish's resume for CFP consideration later on.
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Despite the reports about Toney's injury, Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman made an intriguing remark.
"We’ll see if he plays or not. We have to make sure we have a plan if he plays, if he doesn’t, we’ll adjust," Freeman said, according to The Athletic's Pete Sampson, ahead of Saturday's big game in South Bend, Indiana.
Freeman indicated he first learned of Toney's injury on Wednesday, giving Notre Dame time to prepare for either scenario.
More news: Miami Gets Concerning Malachi Toney Injury Update Ahead of Notre Dame Clash
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Miami's star wide receiver is reportedly set to undergo tightrope surgery, a procedure commonly used for high ankle sprains. He reportedly rolled his ankle during Wednesday's practice when he was "caught up in a play with a cornerback." He then underwent further evaluations, which led to the recent surgery update.
According to On3, Toney is "ruled out indefinitely," and there's typically a four-to-six-week recovery time following this surgery. While he won't play against Notre Dame, the reported recovery timeline could allow him to return in time for the College Football Playoff.
Toney ranked second in the nation with 73 receptions, third in the nation with 1,027 receiving yards, and was tied for second with 13 touchdowns. He was also among the Heisman Trophy contenders, although his quarterback, Darian Mensah, had recently emerged as the favorite for the award.
“They’ve got great players. I’m not saying one person’s going to replace Malachi Toney, but they have a lot of great players on their team and they’re going to find ways to get their best players on the field," Freeman also said on Thursday, per ESPN.
Cooper Barkate ranked second overall for Miami's receivers with 28 receptions for 372 yards and four touchdowns. Daylyn Upshaw was third with 263 yards and two touchdowns, followed by Elija Lofton with 20 receptions for 236 yards and two touchdowns.
Playing without Toney is a major blow to Miami's chances of winning, despite their other options. The Hurricanes are currently 8-0, and it's uncertain how a loss to Notre Dame would affect their CFP ranking. That said, they want to ensure their star sophomore receiver is healthy for a CFP run, with the first round beginning on Dec. 18 and 19.
No. 11 Notre Dame hosts No. 1 Miami in a clash of top 15 teams on Saturday, Nov. 7, beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET.
More news: Brady Quinn Hits Notre Dame With Harsh Reality Check Ahead of Miami Game
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