The Heisman Trophy pose has become something of a recurring bit in college football over the past 30 years, with celebratory players stating their case for the most prestigious individual award in the sport by lifting a leg, holding on to the ball in their left hand and throwing out a stiff arm with their right.
Malachi Toney, though, may have struck it earlier than anyone ever.
After hauling in a 23-yard touchdown reception from Darian Mensah on his team's first drive of its season-opener against Stanford, the superstar Miami wide receiver mimicked the iconic trophy's pose in the back of the end zone at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, California.
Malachi Toney hit the Heisman celly after his TD 🔥 @accnetwork pic.twitter.com/quJNfu7kwM
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) September 5, 2026
College football season predictions: Picks for CFP, Heisman, biggest surprises
Premature as it might have been, it was difficult to blame the sophomore for being excited. Toney catches were responsible for 75 yards on a Hurricanes touchdown drive that covered 77 yards in just four plays.
Toney wasn't done there, either.
With Miami staring at a first-and-goal from the Stanford 2-yard line, Toney caught another pass from Mensah for a touchdown. As teammates came to congratulate him in the end zone, Toney again struck the Heisman pose.
In case you forgot...
— Miami Hurricanes Football (@CanesFootball) September 5, 2026
Malachi Toney is DIFFERENT! 🙌
📺: ESPN pic.twitter.com/btbvV7FBlY
On his team's first two drives alone, Toney had five catches for 89 yards, giving him more receiving yards than he had in 11 of his 16 games last season.
As a freshman in 2025, Toney was an integral piece for a Miami team that made it to the championship game of the College Football Playoff, where it lost to Indiana. The Liberty City, Florida native finished the season with 109 catches for 1,211 yards and 10 touchdowns. He finished fifth among all FBS players in receiving yards and was named a freshman All-American by several outlets.
Heisman Trophy 2026 odds
Toney winning the Heisman isn't out of the question, but he's certainly a longshot. Indeed, he isn't even the favorite on his own team. As of Friday, Sept. 4, Toney has +4000 odds to win, via BetMGM, putting him in the company of Texas A&M's Marcel Reed and Michigan's Bryce Underwood. Darian Mensah is behind C.J. Carr and Arch Manning at +1000, and Jeremiah Smith has the best receiver odds at +1600.
- QB C.J. Carr, Notre Dame: +700
- QB Arch Manning, Texas: +850
- QB Darian Mensah, Miami: +1000
- QB Dante Moore, Oregon: +1100
- QB Julian Sayin, Ohio State: +1400
- WR Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State: +1600
- QB Josh Hoover, Indiana: +1600
- QB Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss: +1600
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Malachi Toney strikes Heisman pose twice in first quarter of Miami season-opener
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