The race for the top college football running back in 2026 is heating up, and it's all about the SEC stars. Ahmad Hardy from Missouri and Kewan Lacy from Ole Miss are the names on everyone's lips this season. Last year, they were both in the shadow of Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love in the Doak Walker Award race, but with Love now showcasing his skills with the Arizona Cardinals, Hardy and Lacy are ready to take center stage.
According to Ari Wasserman's latest rankings on On3, these two are leading the pack among college football's elite running backs. Hardy has a slight edge over Lacy, claiming the top spot in the rankings.
Hardy's journey is one for the books. Standing at 5-foot-10 and weighing 206 pounds, he kicked off his college career at Louisiana-Monroe in 2024.
He made an immediate impact, rushing for 1,351 yards and 13 touchdowns, hitting over 100 yards in eight games. His stellar performance earned him a place on the All-Sun Belt First Team and the title of Sun Belt Freshman of the Year.
After his breakout season, Hardy made the move to Missouri in 2025. His debut in the SEC was nothing short of spectacular, racking up 1,649 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns. One of his standout performances was a jaw-dropping 300-yard, three-touchdown game against Mississippi State, leading to a 49-27 victory.
Hardy's 2025 accolades include a spot on the All-SEC First Team offense, alongside Lacy, and multiple All-America First Team selections. He was also a finalist for the prestigious Doak Walker Award.
However, Hardy faced a setback on May 10 when he sustained a gunshot wound to his leg at a concert in his hometown of Oma, Mississippi. Despite initial concerns about his 2026 season, there's growing optimism within the Missouri camp that Hardy will make a full recovery and return to the field.
Even if Hardy isn't at his peak, Missouri's backfield remains strong with Jamal Roberts ready to step up. Roberts, who stands at 6-foot and weighs 212 pounds, logged 753 yards and six touchdowns last season and brings an added dimension to the receiving game.
Circle October 17 on your calendars, as Missouri heads to Vaught-Hemingway Stadium to take on Ole Miss. This matchup promises a thrilling showdown between Hardy and Lacy, the top two running backs in the nation this year.
Lacy's story is equally compelling. He started his college career with the Tigers but transferred to Ole Miss in 2025 after finding himself behind Nate Noel, Marcus Carroll, and Jamal Roberts on the depth chart. In 2024, he managed 23 carries for 104 yards, but his move to Ole Miss has given him the opportunity to shine.
This season is shaping up to be a thrilling chapter in college football, with Hardy and Lacy leading the charge. Keep an eye on these two as they battle for supremacy on the field.
In Other News...
Ole Miss May Have Found A Crucial Answer Next To Suntarine Perkins
Suntarine Perkins is back for 2026, and that alone gives Ole Miss a familiar anchor on a defense that will look different under new head coach Pete Golding. The Rebels also added linebacker Keaton Thomas, a physical presence who arrives with a reputation for production, along with transfer Luke Ferrelli as Golding starts shaping the next version of the unit.
For Ole Miss, the appeal is obvious: a steadier linebacker group could go a long way toward cleaning up the run defense while the Rebels adjust to a new nine-game SEC schedule. Thomas brings experience and versatility to a room that needed another proven body next to Perkins, and his arrival may prove especially important if Ole Miss is trying to replace departed production without losing much in the middle. [Read more 🡒]
What Will It Take For Ole Miss Defense To Become SEC Elite
Ole Misss defensive conversation this fall starts with Pete Golding and quickly turns to a bigger question: what does an SEC-level ceiling actually look like in 2026? The answer in the programs internal thinking seems to hinge on a defense that can wear a few different hats, show one picture before the snap and another after it, and still have enough discipline to keep an offense guessing without losing its own footing.
The Rebels also know the burden does not fall on the defense alone. If the offense can help control the flow of games, Goldings side can stay aggressive and fresh, which matters when the plan is built around forcing opponents away from their first choice and making them solve a longer, less comfortable puzzle. The challenge is whether that formula holds up once the games stretch deep and the pressure turns every possession into a test of endurance and poise. [Read more 🡒]
Pete Golding Just Gave Ole Miss Fans A Different Feeling About 2027
Ole Miss has spent the last stretch quietly stacking commitments for the future, and the result is starting to look a lot more substantial than the usual early-calendar recruiting buzz. Under Pete Golding, the Rebels have added high school pledges across the 2027 and 2028 classes, with linebacker David Parson, receivers Latedrick Mallard and Mosley, and defensive linemen Turner and Shumaker all helping push the class into top-25 territory.
For a program trying to keep its roster pipeline steady, the spread of those additions matters almost as much as the names themselves. There is in-state momentum, help on both sides of the ball, and an early foothold in a 2028 group that still has plenty of time to grow. The bigger question now is how much more of that early traction Ole Miss can turn into before the rest of the country starts treating this run as one worth chasing. [Read more 🡒]