Vol. 106, Issue 17
Sept. 9, 2026 - Sept. 22, 2026
MIAMI’S NEW DYNAMIC DUO Malachi Toney, Darian Mensah headline 45-6 win over Stanford By Sebastian Font & Jayden Gonzalez Co-Sports Editors It takes more than five hours by plane to cover the 2,565-mile distance to Stanford from the University of Miami. Darian Mensah and Malachi Toney found the Stanford end zone in less than two minutes. Their connection wasted no time striking early and often, leading to one of the most historic nights in college football as the pair set multiple program records. The Hurricanes came out of the gates firing on all cylinders and never let their foot off the gas en route to a statement 45-6 Week 1 win over the Stanford Cardinal. Malachi Magic There’s always a moment in a legendary athlete’s career where they shift from budding superstar to a possible all-time great. Toney had his moment in the first half against Stanford, putting up a video game-like stat line of 10 receptions for 182 yards and two touchdowns. The moment has never been too bright for the electric 18-yearold who, as a freshman, set Miami’s single-season reception and receiving yard record last year — but this game felt different. Now a sophomore and a captain, Toney wasted no time in making an impact by reeling in 75 yards and a touchdown on Miami’s opening drive. And as he strolled into the end zone, he traded out his iconic “305” celebration for a new one, the Heisman pose. After scoring again on the following drive, Toney hit the pose again — signaling to the college football world that he wants to be known
Rathskeller to host watch parties for select Miami football games
as the best in the country. He ended his night midway through the third quarter with 12 catches for 234 yards and three touchdowns, setting a program record for receiving yards, which had previously been set in 1984 by Eddie Brown (220). Known locally as “Baby Jesus,” Toney continues to be the stuff of legend for the Miami faithful. Shades of the 2024 Hurricane offense Led by No.1 overall pick and Heisman finalist Cam Ward, the 2024 Hurricanes set the college football world alight with 44.3 points and 537 yards per game, both program records. While it’s a lofty comparison, this 2026 Hurricanes offense demonstrated a high level that puts them in the upper echelon of college offenses. Making his first start as a Hurricane, Duke transfer quarterback Darian Mensah carved up the Stanford defense, throwing more touchdowns (5) than incompletions (3). In doing so, he set a program record for passing yards in a UM debut (401), which also marked a career-high. “It’s just an honor to be the quarterback of this team,” Mensah said. “I was eager to get on the field … a dream come true.”
David Lebowitz
// Co-Photo Editor
Sophomore Reciever Malachi Toney celebrates in the endzone after a touchdown against Stanford on Sept. 4, 2026 at Stanford Stadium.
David Lebowitz // Co-Photo Editor Redshirt Senior Reciever Cooper Barkate catches a touchdown pass versus Stanford on Sept. 4, 2026 at Stanford Stadium.
David Lebowitz // Co-Photo Editor Redshirt Junior Quarterback Darian Mensah leaps into the air as he comes onto the field versus Stanford on Sept. 4, 2026 at Stanford Stadium. Mensah only played three quarters as the Canes emptied their bench midway through the third, meaning there’s still room for this Miami offense to grow. Thankfully, this Hurricane side didn’t show signs of the 2024 defense, which routinely gave up points in bunches, notably 42 points in a crushing loss to Syracuse in the final week of the regular season which cost the Canes a playoff appearance. Despite struggling in zone coverage and giving up 144 yards on 13 catches, the new-look Hurricane defense only allowed six points against the Cardinal. Miami’s offense should have no problem putting the team on its back while the defense works out its growing pains. First tree chopped down Yes, it’s only Stanford, a team that went 4-8 last season and barely scraped by Hawaii in its Week 0 season opener.
David Lebowitz // Co-Photo Editor Redshirt Junior Runningback CharMar Brown leaps into the endzone versus Stanford on Sept. 4, 2026 at Stanford Stadium.
But if the Hurricanes wish to avenge their national championship loss last season, they must emphatically dominate every team in front of them on their quest for a sixth national title. They did just that Friday night against the Cardinal, with an impressive 39-point win over a team that was already game-sharp. The Canes could’ve come out sleepwalking in this cross-country affair, but instead they set the tone early and carried the momentum throughout the evening — showcasing why many believe this team to be a championship contender. There’s a long season ahead, with plenty of crucial games on the way, but as head coach Mario Cristobal always emphasizes: “Stay focused on 1-0.” If this team can avoid a slip-up along the way, there should be no reason Miami can’t win its first ACC championship and return to the College Football Playoff.
David Lebowitz // Co-Photo Editor Sophomore Reciever Malachi Toney catches the opening touchdown against Stanford on Sept. 4, 2026 at Stanford Stadium.
Ava Stroshane // Staff Photographer The Rathskeller, UM’s on-campus bar, brings in students with DJ Thursday on Sept. 3, 2026.
By Spencer Werner Contributing Writer With multiple football games scheduled mid-week or conflicting with travel plans, Miami fans are in for a rough ride this season. To help students support the Canes through these inconvenient dates, the Rathskeller — Miami’s on-campus bar — will stream the games live and host watch parties throughout the 2026 season. According to the University, the Rat plans to stream at least five of the Hurricanes’ games: • Sept. 10 at home versus FAMU • Sept. 18 at Wake Forest • Sept. 26 at home versus Central Michigan • Oct. 3 at Clemson • Oct. 31 at UNC, only if it’s a day game • Nov. 7 at Notre Dame • ACC Championship, if UM qualifies Typically, the Rat only stays open until 8 p.m. during the week and is closed on the weekends. But, given the number of games that will run past closing time, UM is making exceptions for the benefit of on-campus Canes fans. Miami’s home opener against Florida A&M, for example, is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 10, at 8 p.m. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
Miami-Florida State football rivalry scores Progressive sponsorship By Riley Donner Contributing Writer In a twist of rivals-turned-partners, Progressive Insurance is now the presenting sponsor of the Miami-Florida State rivalry matchup. Miami Athletics announced the multi-year deal on Thursday, August 28th, marking an innovative partnership between the in-state opponents. The insurance company will focus on activating and driving engagement in South Florida ahead of this season’s game at Hard Rock Stadium. However, this partnership isn’t limited solely to when the teams square off on Oct. 17. Starting this season, Progressive logos will be displayed on the field during every home game at both the Hurricanes’ Hard Rock Stadium and the Seminoles’ Doak S. Campbell Stadium. “Few rivalries in college sports carry the passion, history and statewide significance of Miami vs. Florida
State,” UM Chief Revenue Officer Jesse Marks said. “Progressive’s partnership allows us to build on that tradition while creating an innovative model for how brands can engage with our fans.” In a college football landscape that’s routinely becoming business-oriented, Miami is selling its brand from a position of strength. The Canes played for a national title in January, beating Texas A&M, Ohio State and Ole Miss in the College Football Playoff before losing to Indiana 27-21 at home. Miami participated in five of the 17 most-watched college football games last season, with its national championship and quarterfinal games ranking as the first- and third-most-watched, respectively. The move to draw in more sponsors will also drive up revenue, which is directly tied to how much schools are able to pay their athletes. On July 1, 2025, schools began paying student-athletes directly as a result of the House settlement,
with a cap of around $20.5 million per school this year, projected to rise to $33 million by 2035. The cap is determined by schools’ average revenue from media, tickets and sponsorships. So, securing high-paying sponsorships means the school can pay more competitively and afford better players. However, field sponsorship is new territory. The NCAA only recently approved sponsor logos on the playing surface for regular-season games. Each school gets three spots: one at midfield and two smaller ones wherever the program chooses. This month alone, Progressive has purchased logos for 13 other programs – almost all of them oneschool deals — making the UMFSU sponsorship deal unique. Legends Global brokered the deal alongside both schools, a pattern with B:10.25" the University of Miami. Legends hasT:10" been handling Miami’s multimedia rights since 2021 S:9.75"
Sovannreach Po // Graphics Editor and began offering sponsorship, ticketing and fundraising services in 2023. The company also took over venue management at the Watsco Center in February of this year and negotiated UM’s new agreement with Ticketmaster in July.
Progressive is the third deal Legends has brokered in the last seven months. The two programs have rarely played nice with one another in their historic rivalry, but now they share a sponsor.
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INDEX:
SPORTS | PAGE 2
NEWS | PAGE 3
A&E | PAGE 5
OPINION | PAGE 6
V’S TAKE | PAGE 7