FAYETTEVILLE - Arkansas is already staring at a heavy dose of Missouri’s ground game, and the looming return of Ahmad Hardy could make that task even tougher.
No. 23 Missouri has been getting plenty out of Jamal Roberts, who has piled up 867 rushing yards, eight touchdowns and a 5.2-yard average per carry this season.
That production has given the Tigers a dependable run threat even without Hardy, and Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz said Sunday that Hardy is set to return to practice this week. Drinkwitz did not say whether Hardy would be cleared to play against Arkansas on Saturday.
"Our medical staff will determine his return to game action," Drinkwitz said in a statement posted to social media.
Hardy’s name still carries real weight for Razorback fans because of what he did in Fayetteville last season. He ran for 157 yards and a touchdown against Arkansas and finished 2025 with 1,649 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns after transferring to Missouri from Louisiana-Monroe.
The threat, though, is bigger than one back. Arkansas HC Ryan Silverfield pointed to Missouri’s scheme Monday and made clear the Tigers can keep churning out yards no matter who is carrying the ball.
"That offensive scheme, that wide zone, they've done a fantastic job every year," Arkansas HC Ryan Silverfield said Monday. "You're sitting there saying, 'Man, they pulled a guy from Division II.
They pulled this guy that was a walk-on.' And then next thing you know, they're rushing [for] 200 yards a game, and these backs are all having great statistical years.
I think that's part of the the scheme. It's something they really trust.
So, if they're going to say... we're going to have 80 plays in a game, we're going to run the ball 45 times. We're going to find a way, and sometimes it's 3 yards, sometimes it's 3 yards, and the next thing you know, it's 30 yards.
But they're trusting their scheme.
"It's something they'll hang their hat on, and as you watch Missouri's run game this year, it actually gets stronger in the fourth quarter, which is one of those deals they just keep relying on it, relying on it, relying on it. Whether Hardy can play or not, listen, like you said, it doesn't matter who the running back is, their offensive line, their tight ends have done a nice job with it, and part of it now the play action, the boots, what Simmons can do off of those things can certainly cause you some trouble.
But I think if they wanted to hang their hat on one thing as a program offensively, it's running that wide zone. It doesn't matter who the running back is."
That leaves Arkansas with a straightforward challenge: slow down Missouri on the ground, no matter who takes the handoffs. The Hogs are 75th in the country in run defense, allowing 144.7 rushing yards per game, and they’ll need to be far sturdier there than they have been for most of the season.
In Other News...
Arkansas Is Suddenly In Position For A Massive Calipari Recruiting Win
A big recruiting battle is coming down to the wire for a prospect who could change the shape of a class. Demarcus Henry, a five-star guard in the 2027 cycle, has trimmed his list to Arkansas, Louisville, North Carolina and Kentucky, and he is expected to make his decision later this week. For the Razorbacks, just being in this final group says plenty about the programs current pull under John Calipari, especially with heavyweights from the ACC and SEC still in the mix.
The late stages of a chase like this usually come down to fit, trust and which staff makes the clearest long-term case. Arkansas has plenty to sell as it tries to land one of the top names in the class, but Henrys choice remains unsettled for now, with several bluebloods still waiting alongside the Razorbacks. However this one ends, the decision will reverberate well beyond a single commitment and could become one of the bigger recruiting swings of the cycle. [Read more 🡒]
Arkansas Just Got A Crucial Auburn Detail In A Tough SEC Stretch
Arkansas now knows the final piece of its Week 10 road trip to Auburn, with kickoff set for Nov. 7 at 11:45 a.m. CST and the game slated for SEC Network. It lands in the middle of a demanding SEC run that has already asked plenty of the Razorbacks, and it gives the team a clear target as it keeps navigating a stretch packed with familiar league names and plenty of pressure.
The schedule around Auburn only underscores how important this part of the season is for Arkansas, with Missouri, South Carolina, Texas and LSU all part of the recent and upcoming backdrop. Those matchups carry their own history and recent results, which is exactly why the Razorbacks will be watching every detail they can get as they try to steady things in conference play. [Read more 🡒]
Arkansas Is Chasing A Recruiting Opening Rivals May Regret
Arkansas has been working the recruiting trail with a real sense of urgency, and the official-visit calendar has made that clear. The Razorbacks have hosted a steady stream of prospects while continuing to pursue players already committed elsewhere, including recruits tied to Baylor, Maryland and UTSA, as coaching changes around the country have created openings that did not exist a few weeks ago.
For Arkansas, the appeal is obvious: when other programs change direction, the Hogs get a chance to stay in the conversation longer than they otherwise might. Several of the prospects on the board have already made multiple visits or kept close contact with the staff, which is exactly the sort of groundwork that can pay off if any of those commitments start to wobble. Nothing is settled yet, but Arkansas has put itself in position to benefit if the dominoes begin to fall. [Read more 🡒]