The University of Miami honored the 2001 national championship team on Saturday. And the 2026 version proved that imitation is the best form of flattery by flattening the Pitt Panthers 52-23 wearing those 2001 throwback jerseys (which looked incredible).
Malachi Toney was a man among boys, setting a school record with 16 catches that he turned into 194 yards and three touchdowns. Darian Mensah was 31/37 for 387 yards and four touchdowns with no turnovers. Javian Mallory led all rushers with 7 carries for 47 yards and two touchdowns.
Miami opened with a near perfect start, forcing a quick punt and driving into the Pitt red zone. A touchdown run by Mark Fletcher, Jr. was called back for a hold on Gavin Mueller, and after a sack, Miami settled for a field goal and a 3-0 lead.
The Hurricanes’ defense was excellent in the first half though, forcing punts on the following three drives. Over that span, Miami added touchdowns to cap off 41- and 78-yard touchdown drives. Toney took a screen on an overloaded side and trotted for an easy 19-yard score and a 10-0 lead. The next drive, Mallory took what looked to be a short run up the middle and cut to the right and to the end zone for a 16-yard touchdown and a 17-0 lead.
Miami was in position to really blow the doors off the game quickly and went for it on fourth-and-1. Mensah had about three receivers open, including in the flat for an easy dump off and big gain. But he fired deep down the field to an open Daylyn Upshaw, who dropped it. Pitt would turn around and go 55 yards on six plays and draw to within 17-7 on a five-yard touchdown run by Damon Ferguson, Jr.
Miami would answer with a 75-yard scoring drive. Toney, who left for a while getting what appeared to be his ankle tended to, returned, and he took a short pass through the Pitt defense for a 53-yard touchdown and a 24-7 lead. On the next Pitt play, JJ Dunnigan punched out the ball from Pitt QB Holden Geriner, and Justin Scott recovered. Mensah found Mueller for his first career TD on a tiptoe catch near the sideline for a 31-7 lead. Pitt would complete a Hail Mary (which is becoming a big problem), and the receiver would get dragged down at the half yard line to end the first half.
Miami would get the ball first in the second half after Pat Narduzzi called for an onside kick which Miami recovered. A 44-yard catch by Vandrevius Jacobs led to a two-yard Fletcher run, and this game was in the bag at 38-7. Pitt would go on their own scoring drive the next time up, with Cataurus Hicks beating Ethan O’Connor for a 36-yard touchdown. But Miami would go up 45-14 on a methodical 11-play drive that ended with Mallory bowling into the end zone from two yards.
Mensah connected with Toney early in the fourth quarter from 11 yards to put Miami up 52-14 and end the day for a number of starters. Pitt got a safety and backup QB Corey Dailey threw a 49-yard touchdown pass with less than a minute left to end the scoring.
A dominant day for the No. 1 team in the land.