Miami vs Notre Dame Injury Report: Latest on Malachi Toney and Drayk Bowen

• Miami will face Notre Dame without Malachi Toney, its leading receiver
• Notre Dame will be without the linebacker who wears its defensive radio
• Notre Dame tackles Francis Brewu and Jason Onye are now doubtful

Malachi Toney won’t be in South Bend. Miami’s leading receiver stayed home after ankle surgery, leaving Darian Mensah without the target who caught 13 of his touchdown passes. Notre Dame will be without Drayk Bowen, the linebacker who relays its defensive calls.

Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, November 7, on NBC and Peacock. This is a nonconference game, so Miami has no mandatory ACC availability report to file. Notre Dame issued its own report on November 2.

As of 3:17 p.m. ET Saturday, ESPN also reports that Notre Dame defensive tackles Francis Brewu and Jason Onye are doubtful. For the betting side of the Toney news, see our look at the Miami vs Notre Dame odds and spread after the Malachi Toney injury.

Miami Injury Report vs Notre Dame

Malachi Toney Out for Miami vs Notre Dame

ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported on College GameDay that Toney did not travel to South Bend. He hurt his ankle in practice Wednesday and had tightrope surgery Thursday.

CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz reported a recovery estimate of four to six weeks. Miami hasn’t set a return date.

Toney has 73 catches for 1,027 yards through eight games. His 13 receiving touchdowns already tie Leonard Hankerson’s single-season Miami record, set in 2010. Nobody else in the receiver room comes close to that scoring production.

Joshua Moore: Out for the Season

Moore was already out for the season when Toney got hurt. The same goes for running back Marty Brown and tight end Luka Gilbert. Cornerbacks OJ Frederique Jr. and Ja’Boree Antoine and lineman Max Buchanan missed the October 31 game against North Carolina; Miami hasn’t issued a new designation for them for Notre Dame.

Barkate and Upshaw: Other Targets to Watch

Cooper Barkate has 28 catches for 372 yards and four touchdowns, and Daylyn Upshaw has 22 catches for 263 yards and two scores. They are the most productive options behind Toney, and give Mensah two familiar options without requiring either to duplicate Toney’s workload.

Notre Dame Injury Report vs Miami

Drayk Bowen: Out With a Right Ankle Injury

Notre Dame’s November 2 report lists Bowen as out. He has 45 tackles through eight games, including seven against Navy, and he wears the defensive radio, so he relays calls on the field.

Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa is back after missing two games with a thumb injury. He sits atop the depth chart at Mike linebacker, with Madden Faraimo behind him. Notre Dame has to replace both the tackles and the communication.

DJ McKinney and Brauntae Johnson: Out

McKinney (ankle) and Johnson (foot) are both out. Jayden Sanders is in McKinney’s spot, and Luke Talich is listed at field safety, so two spots in the secondary change.

Francis Brewu and Jason Onye Doubtful for Notre Dame

Notre Dame listed both tackles as questionable Monday. Thamel reported Saturday that Brewu and Onye are now doubtful. Brewu has started seven games, and Onye averages 17 snaps a game. The Irish could be short both a starter and one of the players who normally gives him a breather.

How Injuries Affect Miami at Notre Dame

Miami averages 47.6 points and 534.9 yards per game. Notre Dame has to slow that offense without its starting Mike linebacker and two defensive backs.

The running game gives Miami another way to attack that depleted defense. Mark Fletcher Jr. and Javian Mallory have combined for 16 rushing touchdowns. If Notre Dame has to commit a safety to the run, Barkate and Upshaw should see fewer defenders available to help over the top.

If Brewu and Onye can’t go, Notre Dame will have fewer tackles to rotate against that rushing attack. For a broader read on the matchup, see our early Miami vs Notre Dame prediction and odds.