The Biggest Surprises About Mizzou So Far: The Extra Point

Missouri has been even better than expected in these two specific areas.

Sep 6, 2025; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Missouri Tigers running back Ahmad Hardy (29) evades a defender during a touchdown run against the Kansas Jayhawks at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. | Matt Guzman/MissouriOnSI

Watch the video below Missouri on SI football reporter Joey Van Zummeren breaks down the areas where the Tigers have been better or worse than expected through the first five games of the season.

Welcome to Missouri Tigers On SI's "Extra Point," a video series featuring the site's Missouri beat writers. Multiple times a week, the writers provide analysis on a topic concerning the Tigers or the landscape of college sports.

Evidenced by its late admission into the AP Top 25, the Missouri Tigers' undefeated start has been a surprise to the people outside the fanbase and local media. To those who paid attention during the offseason though, the success the Tigers have had so far, highlighted by wins over Kansas and South Carolina, has not been a surprise.

What has been surprising though is just how dominant two aspects of Missouri's team have been — the offensive run game and defensive run front.

Offensively, the run game has been highlighted by ULM transfer Ahmad Hardy's ability to run through defenders. He leads the country with 730 rushing yards on 103 carries. Even though the sophomore had high expectations entering the season, he's outpaced them so far.

"I didn't think he was gonna be this good. I mean, let's be honest," head coach Eli Drinkwitz said after Missouri's win over South Carolina. "The dude's running through people like he's a dump truck. ... It's unbelievable."

But what's also been surprising about Missouri's run game has been what redshirt sophomore Jamal Roberts has added. He's rushed for 350 yards on 48 carries. Roberts was mostly utilized as a pass protector and a third-down back last season, but earned himself a much-larger role this season.

This tough run game has become the foundation of Missouri's identity so far. The impact its made is most visible through the fact that the Tigers have led the time of possesion battle by an average of 37 minutes to 23 through the first five games of the season.

This has been complemented by the stout run defense Missouri has built. The Tigers have allowed an average of 92 rushing yards per game. Kansas has rushed for 917 yards so far this season, but Missouri allowed just 31 to the Jayhawks.

The team's top struggles haven't come as much of a surprise, either. The instability of the offensive line, the inexperience at quarterback and the holes in the defensive secondary have been issues as expected.

Missouri will have to improve in all three of those areas, but having the surprisingly impressive run units has built a strong core for the Tigers.