MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Malachi Toney had a school-record 16 catches and Darian Mensah threw for 387 yards and four touchdowns as No. 1 Miami rolled past Pitt 52-23 on Saturday in the Hurricanes’ first game as the nation’s top-ranked team in nearly 24 years.
“We ran into a buzz saw,” Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi said. “That’s a good football team. They’re the No. 1 team in the country and it’s no joke.”
Toney finished with 194 receiving yards and three touchdown catches, while Javian Mallory rushed for two scores and Mark Fletcher Jr. moved into the No. 2 spot on Miami’s career list with his 33rd rushing TD.
The win should keep Miami (7-0, 5-0 ACC) atop the poll when the AP Top 25 is updated Sunday — ending what has been a three-week run of the No. 1 team dropping in the poll after a loss. Texas was No. 1 before losing to Oklahoma, then Georgia was No. 1 before falling to Auburn.
“A really good conference win,” Miami coach Mario Cristobal said. “Solid play.”
Toney has reached the 2,000-yard mark for his career, joining Ohio State standout Jeremiah Smith as the only active Football Bowl Subdivision players to reach that milestone by the end of their sophomore season. Toney reached the milestone in his 23rd career game, while Smith took 24 to get there, reaching the mark last season.
Miami native Cataurus “Blue” Hicks had five catches for 149 yards and a touchdown for Pitt (5-3, 2-3), which dropped its third straight game. Holden Geriner got the start at quarterback and completed 18 of 32 passes for 268 yards and a touchdown.
Miami improved to 43-6 as the No. 1 team in the country. Pitt fell to 0-14-1 when facing No. 1.
The Hurricanes put on a show with dozens of members of the 2001 national championship team watching; this weekend was the 25th anniversary celebration of that Miami title. Miami’s current team members wore throwback jerseys featuring the same look and fonts as that team — and looked the part with their play, too.
“It’s motivating, for sure,” Mensah said. “All those guys just have a great knowledge of the game.”
Mensah completed 31 of 37 passes; Miami converted 10 of its first 12 third-down chances; and the Hurricanes scored seven times in their first eight possessions — with six touchdowns and a field goal in that span.
At least one Pitt player said the Panthers had what they believed to be a good scheme to slow down Toney, who entered this weekend with 159 career catches — the most of any FBS player since the start of last season.
They were evidently mistaken.
Toney had 159 receiving yards at halftime, matching Pitt’s total offense number through the first two quarters. His 16 catches broke the previous school mark of 13 in a game — first done by Mike Harley against Duke in 2021, then matched by Toney against Pitt last season.
He became the 11th player in Miami history to reach the 2,000-yard receiving mark and became the 21st currently active player to reach that number at the FBS level.
Toney said he had a conversation with Andre Johnson, one of the stars of that 2001 team and an all-time Miami receiving great.
“He told me just keep being myself,” Toney said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
