Malachi Toney sets a Miami record with 16 catches as No. 1 Miami routs Pitt 52-23

Malachi Toney caught a school-record 16 passes for 194 yards and three touchdowns, and No. 1 Miami beat Pitt 52-23 on Saturday at Hard Rock Stadium in its first game as the top-ranked team since the 2002 season.

Darian Mensah completed 31 of 37 passes for 387 yards and four touchdowns without an interception. Javian Mallory ran for two scores, and Mark Fletcher Jr.'s 2-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter was the 33rd rushing touchdown of his career, which the Associated Press said moved him to No. 2 on Miami's all-time list.

Toney had 159 receiving yards by halftime, the same as Pitt's total offense in the first half. His 16 catches broke the school record of 13, set by Mike Harley against Duke in 2021 and matched by Toney against Pitt last season. His touchdowns went for 19, 53 and 11 yards.

Miami scored seven times on its first eight possessions, six touchdowns and a Jake Weinberg field goal, and converted 10 of its first 12 third downs. Mensah's 53-yard strike to Toney and a 3-yard touchdown to Gavin Mueller came 71 seconds apart late in the second quarter, and the Hurricanes led 31-7 at the half.

Pitt did hit one big play to end the half, a week after Florida State nearly beat Miami on Hail Mary throws in double overtime. Holden Geriner found Cataurus Hicks for 53 yards on the final snap, and Hicks was tackled at the Miami 1. Hicks, a Miami native, finished with five catches for 149 yards and a touchdown. Geriner started and went 18 of 32 for 268 yards. Pitt got a safety and a late touchdown pass from Corey Dailey to Cam Sapp to account for its fourth-quarter points.

Dozens of players from Miami's 2001 national championship team were on hand for the 25th anniversary of that title, and the current team wore throwback jerseys. "I've been excited for the guys from Day 1. ... It just brings those memories back that we had," Pro Football Hall of Famer Ed Reed said in a televised in-game interview, according to the AP.

Miami (7-0, 5-0 ACC) is 43-6 as the No. 1 team, and the win should keep it on top of the AP poll after three straight weeks in which the No. 1 team lost. Pitt (5-3, 2-3) has lost three in a row and is 0-14-1 against No. 1 teams.

Miami visits North Carolina on Oct. 31. Pitt hosts Georgia Tech the same day.