Mizzou star makes ESPN’s list of way-too-early Heisman Trophy contenders for 2026
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Mizzou star running back Ahmad Hardy introduced himself to the SEC with a flourish in 2025.
But according to ESPN’s way-too-early Heisman Trophy contender list, he could be even better in 2026. Hardy transferred to Mizzou from Louisiana-Monroe after a banner first season in college football, running for 1,351 yards and 13 touchdowns. He did a little better than that this fall despite the step up in competition, rushing for 1,560 yards and 16 TDs in Columbia.
And Hardy also averaged a whopping 6.5 yards per carry this season in the SEC after only averaging 5.7 yards per carry at Louisiana-Monroe. So, being in the SEC didn’t bother Hardy 1 bit, and ESPN college football analyst Mark Schlabach expects that trend to continue for Hardy in 2026. That’s why on Saturday night, as Fernando Mendoza was winning the 2025 Heisman, Schlabach put Hardy on his Heisman Trophy candidate list for 2026.
Here is what Schlabach wrote about Hardy in his synopsis of the 2025 breakout star:
A transfer from Louisiana-Monroe, Hardy led the FBS with 130 rushing yards per game and was No. 2 with 1,560 total rushing yards. He had 8 100-yard games for the Tigers, including a whopping 300-yard effort with 3 touchdowns in a 49-27 victory against Mississippi State on Nov. 15.
Hardy became a star in college football this fall, and he did it in the SEC no less. But according to Schlabach, Hardy could become the star of stars in the sport next fall, and that could carry him to a Heisman Trophy when it’s all said and done in 2026.
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Mizzou will play Virginia in the Gator Bowl on Dec. 27.
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
