The Miami football team rolled into its off week at a perfect time ahead of today's rivalry showdown with Florida State. A host of key players injured Sept. 18 at Wake Forest and Oct. 3 at Clemson are starting to come back.

Star Malachi Toney, ranked second in the ACC with 604 receiving yards and tied for the lead with six touchdowns, got banged up in both games but never left for long. The No. 3 Hurricanes' offense will be without starting guard Max Buchanan for a few weeks and he and fellow lineman Matthew McCoy both got hurt against Clemson.

The biggest injury issues all year have been on defense as several top cornerbacks, including starters O.J. Frederique and Xavier Lucas, have been out for most of the season. Those problems built up in the Clemson game when leading edge rusher Marquise Lightfoot left in the first half against the Tigers and didn't return.

Lightfoot ranks second on the team with 19 tackles and leads the way with five sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss. The junior also has a forced fumble. He was the top returning edge rusher from the 2025 team that had one of the most feared defenses in the country backing up Rueben Bain and Akheem Mesidor.

The Canes have showcased their depth in the absence of those key players, boasting the No. 1 scoring defense and No. 5 total defense on their way to a 5-0 start. Here's the latest on Miami's injuries, who's expected to play and which absences could impact the game. Will Marquise Lightfoot and Xavier Lucas play?

Miami inactives vs Florida State

The following players have been ruled out according to Thursday's injury report: WR Joshua Moore (out for season), RB CharMar Brown (out for season), DB Ja'Boree Antoine, DB O.J. Frederique, OL Max Buchanan, TE Luka Gilbert (out for season).

Is Marquise Lightfoot playing?

Lightfoot had two tackles and a sack Oct. 3 at Clemson before heading to the locker room in the second quarter. But he was not listed on the injury report for the FSU game, seeming to confirm coach Mario Cristobal's statements from earlier in the week that he will play today. If Lightfoot still can't go, sophomore Herbert Scroggins III likely slides into the starting role opposite Damon Wilson II with Armondo Blount seeing more snaps, as well.

Is Xavier Lucas playing?

Lucas is set to return to the starting lineup after missing the past four games with an undisclosed injury he suffered in the season opener at Stanford. Heading into Miami's last game Oct. 3 before its bye week, Lucas was listed as questionable until the night before the game, when he was ruled out. If he still can't go today, Bryce Fitzgerald likely remains the starter opposite Ethan O'Connor with additional snaps for Ryan Mack and Camdin Portis, as well. Damari Brown also could start in his place after getting six snaps against Clemson in his own return from injury.

What Mario Cristobal said about injuries

Miami coach Mario Cristobal said at his weekly news conference Monday, Oct. 13, that both Marquise Lightfoot and Xavier Lucas were "all the way back" from their injuries and should be back to their usual starting positions against FSU. He also said linebacker Ezekiel Marcelin Jr., one of the many players injured in the Wake Forest game in Week 3, and cornerback Damari Brown, who played briefly against Clemson, were fully healthy.

On the offensive line, Cristobal said while starting right tackle Matthew McCoy would be back after missing some time against Clemson, right guard Max Buchanan, also injured in the game before the bye, would miss more time with a left leg injury. “Hopefully, he’ll join us later in the year,” Cristobal said.