Missouri football is already facing a tough road for the 2026 season, pegged to finish a dismal 10th in the SEC by USA Today voters, all while third-year running back Ahmad Hardy fights through one of the wildest recovery stories you’ll hear this year.
Low Expectations Despite Star Power
Look, the SEC is brutal, we all get it. But a 10th place finish? That’s a punch to the gut for any program. What’s even crazier is that two Mizzou guys actually made the preseason All-SEC team. Fourth-year left tackle Cayden Green and running back Ahmad Hardy both got nods from the 15 voters covering the league. Think about that: they’re one of only six teams with multiple players on that preseason squad, yet the collective wisdom says they’re scraping the bottom half. Neither Green nor Hardy was a unanimous pick, sure, but still, having two standout guys and getting rated so low? Something doesn’t add up.
The Unprecedented Recovery of Ahmad Hardy
The big question mark hanging over everything, though, is Ahmad Hardy. And man, what a situation. Coach Eli Drinkwitz gave an “encouraging” update on Monday, but the backstory is just wild: Hardy sustained a gunshot wound to his thigh back on May 10 in Mississippi. Drinkwitz said Hardy could be looking at entering a return-to-play protocol in 5-8 weeks. He anticipates Hardy “will make a recovery,” but the coach was upfront about the unknowns. “What that recovery will look like after having a bullet, you know, strike you is still to be determined,” Drinkwitz admitted. There isn’t a ton of data on this kind of recovery, so Mizzou’s medical, athletic performance, and nutrition teams are working together at a “very good pace” to figure it out. How do you even prepare for something like that? It’s unprecedented, and his return could totally shift their season.
The SEC Hype Machine Rolls On
Meanwhile, the rest of the SEC is getting all the hype. Texas, with nine first-place votes, is the preseason favorite to snag the regular-season title, and their coach, Steve Sarkisian, is tipped for SEC Coach of the Year. Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss is the preseason Player of the Year, and LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt got the nod for Newcomer of the Year. So you’ve got these titans getting all the attention, and Mizzou is just there, trying to piece together a season with a star running back facing an unheard-of recovery. It makes their 10th place prediction feel even more stark when you see the talent at the top.
So, where does that leave Mizzou? With two All-SEC players and one of them fighting his way back from a bullet wound, they’ve got a massive uphill climb. They’re going to need Green to be an absolute rock on the line and for Hardy’s recovery to defy expectations. Will they prove those 15 voters dead wrong? It’s going to be a fascinating season to watch, especially with that kind of adversity already on the table.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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