The transfer portal's been buzzing, and college football fans have had their fair share of heartbreak this offseason. But in Columbia, Missouri, there’s reason to smile. One of the nation’s most electric backs isn’t going anywhere.
Ahmad Hardy is coming back in 2026.
Missouri announced Friday that Hardy, the breakout star of their backfield and a consensus All-American, will return for another season with the Tigers. And for a program that’s been building something special, this is a massive win.
Hardy didn’t just make an impact in his first year at Mizzou-he exploded onto the national stage. After transferring in from Louisiana Monroe, the sophomore back turned heads across the SEC and beyond, earning a spot as a finalist for the Doak Walker Award, given to the nation’s top running back. That recognition wasn’t just hype-it was backed up by serious production.
Hardy leads the country in rushing yards per game (130), and he’s done it with efficiency that’s borderline absurd. He’s the only back in the nation with more than 200 carries while averaging north of 6.4 yards per touch. That kind of volume and explosiveness doesn’t come around often, and Missouri knows exactly what it has.
Through 12 games, Hardy has piled up 1,560 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns, with the Gator Bowl still to come. He opened the season with five straight 100-yard games and finished the regular season with eight such performances in total.
His consistency has been a rock for the Tigers’ offense, and his ceiling? Well, we got a glimpse of that on November 15, when he went off for 300 yards-a feat that’s only been accomplished six times in SEC history.
That’s not just a good day. That’s a legacy game.
Hardy isn’t draft-eligible yet, but his return still carries major implications. In today’s college football landscape, where elite talent often bolts early or hits the portal, keeping a player of Hardy’s caliber is a statement.
It signals stability. It signals ambition.
And it gives Missouri a real shot to build on the momentum of this season.
Next up: a Gator Bowl showdown with Virginia on December 27. It’s another chance for Hardy to add to his growing résumé and for Mizzou to close the year with a statement win.
But no matter what happens in that game, one thing is already clear-Ahmad Hardy is a Tiger, and Missouri’s backfield is in very good hands for 2026.