The Miami Hurricanes took care of business against Stanford in Palo Alto on a late Friday night kickoff, 45 -6. Darian Mensah led the Canes on offense, going 27-30 for 400 yards and 5 touchdowns. Malachi Toney set the Miami single-game receiving record with 233 yards on 12 receptions, with three going for touchdowns. Cooper Barkate chipped in with four receptions for 67 yards and a touchdown. Mark Fletcher Jr. led the Canes in rushing with 40 yards on 13 carries. Stanford quarterback Davis Warren had 214 yards on 21-41 passing with no touchdowns. Sedrick Irvin, a Miami native, led the Cardinal in rushing 41 yards on six rushes. Caden High led the way in receiving with 92 yards on six catches.
The Canes got off to a good start with a forced punt on defense. Their first offensive play of the 2026 season was a 48-yard catch and run by Toney on a perfect ball from Mensah. That was a sign of things to come. The four-play, 77-yard touchdown drive was capped off by a 23-yard touchdown pass from, you guessed it, Mensah to Toney.
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Stanford had to settle for a 30-yard field goal after a dropped pass in the end zone by tight end Benji Blackburn. Miami came out with a more methodical ten-play 75-yard touchdown drive that ended with another Mensah to Toney touchdown pass, this time from two yards out. The Canes led 14-3 after the first quarter.
After two Stanford punts sandwiched around Miami’s first punt, the Canes were looking to extend their lead. They did just that with a five-yard Charmar Brown touchdown run to cap an eight-play 89-yard drive. The Cardinal didn’t fold, as they had some nice pass plays before stalling out and settling for a 24-yard field goal just before halftime. Miami led 28-6 at the break.
Mensah came out firing for the Canes on their opening drive of the third quarter. Seven plays and 75 yards later, Miami was celebrating again after a beautiful 34-yard touchdown pass from Mensah to his former Duke running mate Cooper Barkate.
Stanford couldn’t get anything going on its first second-half possession, punting the ball right back to Miami. Mensah’s fifth touchdown pass of the nice was his nicest, a 47-yard strike to Toney to cap off a brilliant season debut for the Canes’ newest high-profile signal caller. The Canes led 42-6 midway through the third quarter.
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From there, it was back-and-forth punts before a late 46-yard field goal by new Miami kicker Jake Weinberg made it 45-6. Backup quarterback Mike Mitchell Jr. ran out the clock for Stanford.
This was an impressive start by Miami Hurricanes to say the last, especially the offense. Stanford fought hard, but has a long way to go.
Next up: Miami hosts FAMU next Thursday at 8 pm EST on ACC Network. Stanford has next week off before traveling to Duke on 9/19 for a 4 pm EST matchup on CW.
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