​JACKSONVILLE, FL – DECEMBER 27: Missouri Tigers running back Ahmad Hardy (29) celebrates after a long run during the Tax Slayer Gator Bowl between the Virginia Cavaliers and the Missouri Tigers on Saturday, December 27, 2025 at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, FL (Photo by Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NCAA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Missouri fans and fans across the country.Ahmad Hardy will officially be out for at least the first week of Mizzou’s 2026 season.This doesn’t come as a massive surprise. After all, he is recovering from a gunshot wound, which seem to be notoriously dangerous and difficult to recover from. There was some early optimism after the fact that he was medically cleared earlier this summer, but Eli Drinkwitz says he won’t consider Hardy ready until he’s had at least two weeks of practice:“Does that mean mid-September? I don’t know. Does it mean mid-October? I don’t know,” [Drinkwitz] said, “I need a two-week fully invested, being able to practice at full speed, before we consider playing him in a game. And I’m not there yet.”Thankfully, Mizzou is in good hands with the return of Jamal Roberts, probably the best backup running back in all of college football. Still, though… Ahmad Hardy is an All-American back. You don’t just lose those guys and expect things to hum along with zero interruptions. And just because we’ve only got confirmation on one missed game doesn’t mean Hardy will automatically be a-go for the second week against kansas. We could be looking at 4-6 weeks of Hardy-less football.So how are Mizzou fans feeling about potentially missing Hardy for an extended period of time? That’s what we’re asking y’all for this week’s SB Nation Reacts post. Let us know if you’re super nervous or calm, cool, and collected.Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys: