Miami quarterback Darian Mensah and wide receiver Malachi Toney put on a show against Pitt in Week 8, combining for a performance that was simply too good to separate.
Mensah threw for 387 yards and four touchdowns, while Toney set a Miami single-game record with 16 receptions for 194 yards and three scores in the Hurricanes’ 52-23 victory over the Panthers.
For their outstanding performances, Darian Mensah and Malachi Toney are Sportsvival’s Week 8 Impact HVAC Co-Players of the Week.
For Toney, the award comes one week after he earned the Week 7 honor. His latest performance also strengthens his case as a serious Heisman Trophy candidate.
Co-Player of the Week: Darian Mensah, QB, Miami
Week 8 vs. Pitt: 31-of-37 passing, 387 yards, 4 touchdowns, 0 interceptions
Mensah was in complete control of the Miami offense against Pitt, completing 83.8 percent of his passes and finding the end zone four times through the air.
Three of those touchdown passes went to Toney, including a 53-yard connection. Mensah also found tight end Gavin Mueller for a three-yard score, helping the Hurricanes build a 31-7 halftime lead.
Miami finished with 506 yards of total offense, and Mensah’s accuracy and decision-making made it difficult for Pitt to slow the Hurricanes down. He completed 31 passes without throwing an interception and helped Miami improve to 7-0.
Mensah’s Journey to Miami
Mensah’s college career began at Tulane, where he emerged as the starting quarterback in 2024 and threw for 2,723 yards and 22 touchdowns.
He transferred to Duke for the 2025 season and took another major step forward, throwing for 3,973 yards and 34 touchdowns while leading the Blue Devils to an ACC championship.
Now at Miami, Mensah has continued to produce at an elite level. Through seven games, he has thrown for 2,151 yards and 22 touchdowns with only one interception. His combination of accuracy, experience and playmakers around him has made the Hurricanes’ passing attack one of the most dangerous in college football.
Co-Player of the Week: Malachi Toney, WR, Miami
Week 8 vs. Pitt: 16 receptions, 194 receiving yards, 3 touchdowns
One week after being named the Impact HVAC Player of the Week, Toney followed it up with an even bigger afternoon.
The Miami wide receiver caught a school-record 16 passes against Pitt, breaking his own previous record of 13 catches. He scored on receptions of 19, 53 and 11 yards, giving the Panthers problems throughout the game.
Toney did much of his damage before halftime, catching 12 passes for 159 yards and two touchdowns in the first two quarters. He also added 28 yards on two punt returns, finishing with 222 all-purpose yards.
From South Florida Star to Miami Playmaker
Toney was already making a name for himself before arriving at Miami. At American Heritage High School in Florida, he caught 58 passes for 1,008 yards and 12 touchdowns during his final high school season, helping his team win a state championship.
He reclassified from the 2026 recruiting class to the 2025 class, allowing him to enroll at Miami early. Since joining the Hurricanes, he has developed into one of the most exciting offensive players in college football.
A Strong Heisman Trophy Candidate
Toney’s production has placed him firmly in the Heisman Trophy conversation.
Through seven games, the Miami standout has 66 receptions for 952 yards and 11 receiving touchdowns. He is averaging 136 receiving yards per game and has already produced five 100-yard receiving performances this season.
The numbers are impressive, but so is his importance to a Miami team that sits at No. 1 in the Sportsvival Top 25. When the Hurricanes need a big play, Mensah knows he can look in Toney’s direction.
Sportsvival believes Toney has earned a place among the nation’s strongest Heisman candidates. If he continues producing at this level and Miami keeps winning, he should remain a major part of the discussion throughout the season.
Week 8 Runner-Ups
Cardae Mack, RB, Arizona State
Arizona State 28, Kansas State 17
Stats: 26 carries, 159 rushing yards, 4 rushing touchdowns.
Mack delivered one of the most impressive rushing performances of the weekend, finding the end zone four times in Arizona State’s victory over Kansas State. He became the first Arizona State freshman since 1955 to score four rushing touchdowns in a game.
Aidan Chiles, QB, Northwestern
Northwestern 42, Rutgers 14
Stats: 19-of-25 passing, 219 passing yards, 3 passing touchdowns; 83 rushing yards, 2 rushing touchdowns.
Chiles accounted for five touchdowns as Northwestern rolled past Rutgers. His ability to make plays with both his arm and his legs helped the Wildcats earn their fourth consecutive victory.
Cole Tabb, RB, Cincinnati
Cincinnati 37, Texas Tech 24
Stats: 16 carries, 173 rushing yards, 2 rushing touchdowns.
Tabb was a major reason Cincinnati pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the weekend. He averaged 10.8 yards per carry and broke loose for a 58-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. It was the first rushing touchdown Texas Tech had surrendered all season.
MJ Cannon, DB, Cincinnati
Cincinnati 37, Texas Tech 24
Stats: 8 tackles, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble, 1 pass breakup.
While Tabb led the way on the ground, Cannon made huge plays for the Cincinnati defense. He forced a fumble on Texas Tech’s opening drive and intercepted a pass late in the first half, setting up a Bearcats touchdown.
Sebastian Cheeks, LB, Wisconsin
Wisconsin 24, USC 7
Stats: 5 tackles, 2.5 sacks.
Cheeks put consistent pressure on USC quarterback Jayden Maiava and played a leading role in Wisconsin’s defensive performance. The Badgers finished with five sacks and held USC to minus-17 rushing yards in the win.
Congratulations to Our Week 8 Winners
Sportsvival congratulates Darian Mensah and Malachi Toney on being named the Week 8 Impact HVAC Co-Players of the Week.
Mensah’s precision and Toney’s record-setting receiving performance were at the center of a dominant Miami victory. For Toney, it is his second consecutive week receiving the honor, and his Heisman campaign continues to grow.
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