Missouri star running back Ahmad Hardy will make his 2026 season debut on Saturday against Arkansas after being cleared to return from a gunshot wound suffered in May, sources confirmed. Hardy was injured while attending a concert in Mississippi, sidelining him for the Tigers' first seven games.
Head coach Eli Drinkwitz announced earlier this week that Hardy had returned to practice, though he did not commit to his game status. Hardy's absence from the SEC availability report on Wednesday signaled he would be available against the Razorbacks.
Hardy ranked second nationally and first among Power Four running backs in 2025 with 1,649 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns. In his absence, Jamal Roberts has emerged as the lead back, ranking eighth nationally with 867 rushing yards and tied for 11th with eight rushing touchdowns this season.
Missouri's rushing offense has averaged 161.3 yards per game, ninth in the SEC. With Hardy back, the Tigers could field a potent one-two punch ahead of a challenging November stretch against Texas, Georgia, and Kentucky. The combination of Hardy and Roberts, alongside quarterback Austin Simmons' passing attack, could make Missouri a dangerous late-season contender.
