Miami Rout Stanford 45-6; Mensah, Toney Star

The No. 7 Miami Hurricanes opened their 2026 season with a dominant 45-6 victory over Stanford on Friday night, September 4, at Stanford Stadium. The win was highlighted by a record-setting performance from wide receiver Malachi Toney and a flawless debut from quarterback Darian Mensah, setting a powerful tone for Miami's upcoming Atlantic Coast Conference schedule. Mensah, a transfer from Duke, completed 27 of 30 passes for 401 yards and five touchdowns. His performance marked the best debut by any Miami quarterback, as he connected with seven different receivers. Mensah's command of the offense was evident from the opening drive, which he capped with a 23-yard touchdown pass to Toney. "It's effortless," Mensah said of his connection with Toney. "He understands how to get open. It makes it easier for me to do my job." Toney, a sophomore, delivered a historic night, catching 12 passes for a school-record 234 yards and three touchdowns. His performance broke the single-game receiving record previously held by Eddie Brown, who set the mark of 220 yards in 1984. Toney's touchdowns came on plays of 23, 2, and 47 yards, and he celebrated several with a Heisman pose.