Sports
SEC notebook: Missouri RB Ahmad Hardy cleared after shooting; recovery timeline TBD
![Missouri Tigers running back Ahmad Hardy (29) reacts to his first down pickup during the first quarter of the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl at EverBank Stadium, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, in Jacksonville. Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]](https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-1200,fo-auto/27891314.jpg)
Missouri Tigers running back Ahmad Hardy (29) reacts to his first down pickup during the first quarter of the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl at EverBank Stadium, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, in Jacksonville. Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union] Missouri running back Ahmad Hardy has been medically cleared for football activities just over two months after being shot in the upper leg, head coach Eli Drinkwitz announced Monday.
Hardy was shot while attending an outdoor concert on May 10 in Laurel, Miss.
“We anticipate he will make a recovery, but what that recovery will look like after having a bullet strike you is still to be determined,” Drinkwitz said Monday at SEC Media Days. “We do not know exactly what the return to play progression is because there’s not a lot of literature to that on this.
“We do anticipate this return to play protocol could take anywhere from five-to-eight weeks, and at the end of the eight weeks, we still don’t know what the recovery will be — is he the same Ahmad Hardy as he was last year? My anticipation and what I’ve seen and the way he’s attacked his rehab, he’s going to be a better Ahmad Hardy than he was before.”
Drinkwitz said Hardy likely learned an important lesson during the ordeal.
“I think there’s a youthfulness feel of invincibility for all of these guys right now from 18 to 22 (years) old, and they’re empowered more now than they’ve ever been before, whether that’s financially or influence,” Drinkwitz said. “I think for Ahmad, there was that moment there where he realized he was mortal, and there could be really bad outcomes if you don’t make the right decisions consistently.
“It was an unfortunate accident, incident and it wasn’t something he had any intention, nobody did. When you go to a concert, you don’t expect to be a victim of a random act of violence, especially gun violence. But I’ve been very, very proud of the way he has approached his recovery. This was a great opportunity for Ahmad to learn and for our student-athletes to learn. Also a great reminder there’s no place for gun violence in this world and that we need to do a better job of policing gun violence.”
Missouri opens the 2026 season on Sept. 3 against Arkansas-Pine Bluff in Columbia, Mo. That is approximately 6 1/2 weeks into the recovery timeline.
Hardy, 20, is a Mississippi native. He began his career at Louisiana-Monroe, where he was named the 2024 Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year after he led the conference in rushing yards (1,351) and rushing touchdowns (13) on 237 attempts.
He transferred to Missouri, where he ranked second among FBS players with 1,649 rushing yards last season, a mark that broke the Tigers’ single-season record. He earned SEC Newcomer of the Year honors, was a finalist for the Doak Walker Award and a consensus All-American while scoring 16 TDs and averaging 6.4 yards on his 256 rushing attempts.
–Oklahoma not noticing newfound national respect
A year ago, there were some valid questions about Brett Venables’ future at Oklahoma. After 6-7 campaigns in two of his first three seasons, the Sooners needed a breakthrough in 2025 for their coach’s sake. They delivered just that, finishing a 10-2 regular season, earning the No. 8 seed in the College Football Playoff and hosting a first-round game they lost to Alabama.
Now, Venables enters Year 5 at Oklahoma on a cooler seat and with higher expectations. Quarterback John Mateer is back and fully recovered from the throwing hand injury that limited him last season. A number of key pieces from the Sooners’ stellar defense are also back this fall.
The coach is trying not to give any of that attention much mind.
“We focus on things that we can control,” Venables said. “Do you ever use that as a motivation for a guy to maybe humble a guy? Absolutely. But at the end of the day this is a game of performance, this is a game that’s about the work, and this is a game where it’s decided on the field.” His Sooners will get to prove their worth early in the season, playing at Michigan, at Georgia and facing Texas in Dallas in their first five games of the season.
–Will Stein brings extreme confidence to Kentucky
When it comes to Kentucky, football isn’t the first sport that comes to mind.
But with the confidence that first-year coach Will Stein is bringing to the Wildcats, he certainly believes that will change. Stein, who rose to prominence as Oregon’s offensive coordinator the last three seasons, takes over a program that has won double-digit games just twice since 1977.
As the 36-year-old Louisville native took the podium Monday, he took the opportunity presented by a reporter asking him why he believes he’ll win big in Lexington to demonstrate his strong self-belief.
“I think because of me, to be honest,” Stein said. “Because of me. I think I know what it takes. I’ve seen it at the highest levels. I know what it takes to recruit at this level. You’ve just got to believe, man. You’ve just got to put the ball down and play. There’s not really (much) else to be said.”
–Field Level Media
SEC Media Days serves as college football’s unofficial opening ceremony — a four-day traveling roadshow where coaches, star players, television personalities and reporters descend on one city to shape the sport’s biggest narratives before a single snap is played.Â
The 2026 version kicked off on Monday, with Tampa, Florida hosting the event for the first time. Dallas, Nashville and Atlanta have served as hosts for the previous three years.
No conference does theater quite like the SEC. Media Days has evolved from a routine preseason obligation into one of the sport’s premier annual events, where perception often matters almost as much as production. Before anyone wins a game this fall, the race for headlines begins in Florida.
Oklahoma’s Brent Venables began the festivities on Monday morning. Four coaches will speak in the main room each day. Steve Sarkisian and Texas finish out the week on Thursday afternoon. Several preseason Heisman candidates will also be in attendance, including Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning, Ole Miss star Trinidad Chambliss and Oklahoma’s John Mateer.
Here’s a look at where to watch 2026 SEC Media Days, along with a breakdown of the full appearance schedule ahead of the anticipated event.Â
Where to watch 2026 SEC Media DaysÂ
Dates:Â July 20-23
Location: Tampa Marriott Water Street + JW Marriott | Tampa, Florida
TV:Â SEC Network |Â Live stream: ESPN+
2026 SEC Media Days scheduleÂ
All times Eastern
Wednesday, July 22
Alabama (9:05 a.m.) – Kalen DeBoer | Zabien Brown, DB; Ryan Coleman-Williams, WR; Bray Hubbard, DBÂ
Florida (10:30 a.m.) – Jon Sumrall | Jadan Baugh, RB; Myles Graham, LB; Vernell Brown III, WR
Ole Miss (1:30 p.m.) – Pete Golding | Trinidad Chambliss, QB; Will Echoles, DT; Kewan Lacy, RB
Texas A&M (2:55 p.m.) – Mike Elko | Daymion Sanford, LB; Marcus Ratcliffe, S; Marcel Reed, QB
Thursday, July 23
LSU (9:05 a.m.) – Lane Kiffin | TJ Dottery, LB; Trey’Dez Green, TE; Whit Weeks, LB
Arkansas (10:30 a.m.) – Ryan Silverfield | Caden Kitler, OL; Quincy Rhodes Jr., DE; Sutton Smith, RB
Mississippi State (1:30 p.m.) – Jeff Lebby | Anthony Evans III, WR; Kelley Jones, CB; Kamario Taylor, QB
Texas (2:55 p.m.) – Steve Sarkisian | Trevor Goosby, OL; Arch Manning, QB; Colin Simmons, DE
More from SEC Media Days
Nov 18, 2025; San Jose, California, USA; Utah Mammoth defenseman John Marino (6) warms up before the game against the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Bob Kupbens-Imagn Images The Utah Mammoth signed defenseman John Marino to an eight-year, $54 million contract extension on Tuesday.
The deal carries an average annual value of $6.75 million and begins with the 2027-28 season.
Marino, 29, had a career-high 36 points (four goals, 32 assists) and finished tied for fifth in the NHL in plus/minus (plus-42) in 80 games with Utah last season.
“We value John’s long-term commitment to Utah and what he brings to our group every day,” president of hockey operations Chris Armstrong said. “His professionalism and competitiveness as well as the stability and puck-moving ability that he provides on our blue line, makes him an invaluable cornerstone for our franchise.” Marino has 157 points (23 goals, 134 assists) in 443 career games with the Pittsburgh Penguins (2019-22), New Jersey Devils (2022-24) and Mammoth.
“We view John as a foundational piece of our future,” general manager Bill Armstrong said. “His ability to control the game from the back end, his play in transition and our trust in him to make the right decisions in critical situations allows him to be a difference maker on most nights. Beyond his skill, John brings a level of calmness under pressure that our group feeds off of and that’s exactly what you need from your veteran players.”
The Edmonton Oilers drafted Marino in the sixth round in 2015 and he played at Harvard from 2016-19.
–Field Level Media
MI London bowler Richard Gleeson is on for his hat-trick after dismissing SunRisers Leeds’ Zak Crawley and Benny Howell in two balls, only for number 11 batter Abrar Ahmed to spoil his moment by hitting a six.
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Spain reunited with their supporters in Madrid less than 24 hours after winning the World Cup final against Argentina (1-0, after extra time). The players of La Roja, alongside head coach Luis de la Fuente, displayed the trophy upon their arrival at the airport before taking part in celebrations across the capital. More than 1 million people attended the parade, which ended with a major concert at Cibeles Square.
Â
Lionel Messi has spoken after Argentina’s defeat in the final, describing his feelings as immense pain and admitting the loss would leave a deep mark.
In the FIFA rankings, Spain have returned to first place ahead of Argentina. France remain third despite their defeat against England in the third-place match (6-4).
Rudi Garcia will leave his position as Belgium manager despite guiding the team to the World Cup quarter-finals.
The football world has also paid tribute to Kevin Keegan, who has died at the age of 75.
In cycling, Jonas Vingegaard will undergo collarbone surgery after his crash on the Tour de France. Stage 16 features a 26.1-kilometre individual time trial this Tuesday.
In tennis, Océane Dodin claimed her first victory on the WTA Tour in two years at the Prague tournament, while Mayar Sherif won the Iași tournament after Paula Badosa retired in the final.
New Delhi:
Former chairman Lalit Modi was cleared in the principal proceedings arising from the 2009 Indian Premier League’s staging in South Africa after the Appellate Tribunal under SAFEMA set aside the penalties imposed on him, rejecting the Enforcement Directorate’s core case that the foreign remittances were capital account transactions.Announcing the verdict after more than 16 years of investigations, proceedings, and litigation, Modi said the tribunal found that the main remittances related to IPL 2009 were current account transactions. It also determined that he was not responsible for the BCCI’s statutory FEMA compliance or given the financial authority as alleged by the Enforcement Directorate.
Calling it the end of the largest legal dispute stemming from the 2009 South Africa edition of the IPL, Modi said, “This marks the end of what has been the single most significant legal matter arising from the 2009 South Africa IPL.”
He added, “For over sixteen years, I have consistently maintained one simple position: I acted in good faith, in the best interests of Indian cricket and the IPL, and committed no personal wrongdoing.”
Modi explained that the decision to move the tournament to South Africa came under extraordinary circumstances when India’s general elections made it impossible to host the event at home.
“The successful staging of that season ensured that the IPL survived and ultimately became one of the world’s most valuable sporting properties,” he said.
Emphasising his full cooperation with the legal process throughout the proceedings, Modi stated, “Throughout these proceedings, I have cooperated with the legal process and remained confident that the facts and the law would ultimately prevail.”
He expressed gratitude to “my legal team, my family, my friends and the many people who continued to believe in me during what has been an extraordinarily long journey.”
Describing the ruling as more than a personal win, Modi said, “This judgment is not simply personal vindication. It reaffirms the importance of due process, objective legal analysis, and the principle that allegations must ultimately be tested against evidence and law.” He added, “I have always believed that time is the greatest judge. Today, after more than sixteen years, that process has spoken.”
Looking ahead, Modi mentioned that his focus had shifted beyond the case. “My focus remains firmly on the future. I will continue pursuing opportunities in global sport, business, and philanthropy while leaving this chapter behind with dignity and gratitude.”
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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May 10, 2026; Sterling, Virginia, USA; Jon Rahm hits a drive in the rain during the final round of LIV Golf Virginia golf tournament at Trump National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Jack Power-Imagn Images Jon Rahm has an outside shot at clinching another individual championship at LIV Golf United Kingdom this week, but the Spaniard doesn’t expect a lot of clarity on or off the course at this point in the season.
Rahm, who won consecutive LIV Golf titles and leads Bryson DeChambeau in a bid for his third in a row this season, stuck around after playing the Open Championship for LIV’s UK event at JCB Golf and Country Club. He holds a 928.58 to 644.40 lead over DeChambeau and is well clear of Joaquin Niemann in third place (344.66).
Rahm beat Niemann and DeChambeau was third in the individual race in 2025.
“It means a lot more than the simple fact that you’re winning. It means that you’re playing good golf consistently, and it means that the process has been working. I’ve always taken a lot of pride in being consistent and having a lot of top 10s, and I think that reflects on those wins,” Rahm said Tuesday in Rocester, England.
“But to wrap it up this early, I still need to win, and I still need to expect a bad week from Bryson, which based on how he’s been playing last week most likely won’t happen. I would expect a fight from him and other players, and I still need to perform at my best to finish it off.”
LIV Golf has been on scheduled hiatus with only tournaments in New Jersey at Trump National in Bedminster (Aug. 6-9) and LIV Indianapolis (Aug. 20-23) before the team championship is staged in Michigan the final weekend in August.
What the future holds for Rahm and all of LIV Golf appears to be up in the air as early as September.
Rahm confirmed he was “in contact” with the decision-makers steering the purported PGA Tour competitor as LIV seeks to find a funding stream or two following the exit of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. “We know a lot of what’s going on, yeah,” Rahm said, but as for those details, there are none “I can share with you guys right now,” he said.
“I’m always optimistic. I play a game for a living. I can’t really be too upset about how things are going in life. Even though I’m very frustrated on the course very often, off the course I’m very different to what a lot of people think.”
Rahm finished tied for 46th at Royal Birkdale last week to walk away with $51,707, a disappointment considering he entered the weekend in a tie with several players in eighth place. The wheels came off with a bogey barrage on Sunday.
“If there was an overall (theme) for the week, it was just I simply couldn’t hole enough putts,” Rahm said of his performance at the Open Championship. “I think I did a lot of good things, and just not seeing the ball go in did get a little frustrating, as it would for anybody, and then on Sunday starting with a double and finishing with a double — it’s just killer. Having three doubles on the weekend is going to kill you.” –Field Level Media
Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe’s Remco Evenepoel won Stage 16 individual time-trial at the 2026 Tour de France. Belgium’s Remco Evenepoel dominated the Stage 16 time trial Tuesday, finishing the technical 26.1-kilometer course at Thonon-les-Bains, France, in 32 minutes, 19 seconds to strengthen his grip on second place in the overall standings at the Tour de France.
The time trial opened the third and final week of the Tour de France after an off day Monday, with the concluding Stage 21 set for a Sunday finish at Paris.
A three-time world champion in the time trial who also won both cycling events at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Evenepoel was a full minute faster than the closest competitor until Slovenia’s Tadej Pogacar finished right behind him in second at 32:47.
Evenepoel was somewhat subdued after the victory at the news that Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe teammate Florian Lipowitz of Germany had to abandon the Tour de France following a crash on the time trial course.
Pogacar, who nearly crashed at the same corner where Lipowitz went down, remained in the overall leader’s yellow jersey, with Evenepoel 4:32 behind after winning his second consecutive stage. Evenepoel won Sunday’s Stage 15 by edging Pogacar on a closing climb in the mountains.
Mexico’s Isaac del Toro remained third in the overall standings after finishing fifth on Tuesday, while 19-year-old Paul Seixas of France was fourth overall after finishing fourth in the time trial.
Juan Ayuso of Spain is fifth overall, just ahead of Denmark’s Mattias Skjelmose, who finished in third place on Tuesday.
Lipowitz entered the time trial fifth in the overall standings, after finishing third overall last year, but is now out with an apparent right shoulder injury after crashing and sliding into a curb alongside the road.
Wednesday’s Stage 17 is a relatively flat 174.7-kilometer route with an early climb from Chambery to Voiron.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Lionel Messi Tried To Divert Referee’s Attention Using ‘Fake Injury’ As Enzo Fernandez Got Red Card. Video
The Argentina vs Spain FIFA World Cup final was a heated affair. There were yellow cards, a red card, and even a full-blown fight. Enzo Fernandez‘s dismissal in second-half stoppage time left Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina with 10 men for the closing stages before the European champions clinched the title. In a new video that has emerged, Lionel Messi can be seen telling the referee to look at Nicolas Tagliafico, who was lying on the ground just as Fernandez received the red card. However, in the video, it can be clearly seen that Tagliafico was faking his injury.
Este es, quizás, el vĂdeo más descarado de la Final de la Copa del Mundo. Todos vimos cĂłmo Enzo Fernández casi mata a Pau CubarsĂ, pero si te fijas, más abajo, un jugador de Argentina, Nicolás Tagliafico, ve la tremenda patada de su compañero y, sabiendo que la ha cagado, se le… pic.twitter.com/5Ae5itK0LB
— Javier Rubio Donzé (@Sr_Donze) July 21, 2026
Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez has vowed to keep giving everything for his country after breaking his silence following the FIFA World Cup final defeat to Spain, a match that saw him sent off late before the team’s title defence ended in heartbreak. Spain edged Argentina 1-0 after extra time at New York New Jersey Stadium on Monday, with Ferran Torres scoring the decisive goal.
The Chelsea midfielder had already been booked for dissent before receiving a second yellow card for a late challenge on Spain defender Pau Cubarsi. A day after the defeat, Fernandez took to Instagram to thank the fans and reflect on Argentina’s campaign, insisting the team’s commitment extended beyond the final result.
“As time goes by, you understand that there’s something much bigger than a result. For years, this group has represented us in the best way. They teach us that competing isn’t just about winning, but about giving everything for the shirt and never giving up. Being part of this group that always showed its mettle, that competed at the highest level, and that defended these colours with pride, humility, and commitment is an honour.”
The 25-year-old also expressed his gratitude to the Argentina faithful, who backed the team throughout the tournament.
“I want to thank all the Argentine fans. Thank you for always being there, for supporting us in every match, for your affection, your unconditional support, and for making us feel like we’re at home anywhere in the world.”
Fernandez signed off with a promise to continue serving the national team with the same commitment despite the painful end to Argentina’s World Cup campaign.
“Wearing my country’s shirt is the greatest honour of my career, and I will continue to give my all every time I have the opportunity to defend it.”
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Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel stormed to victory in Tuesday’s 26.1km individual time-trial at the Tour de France to shave valuable seconds off Tadej Pogacar‘s overall lead.
Belgian Evenepoel, 26, blasted over the stage 16 course along the shores of Lake Geneva 28 seconds quicker than reigning champion Pogacar in second.
Everyone else finished more than a minute back, with Dane Mattias Skjelmose taking third at 1min 04sec.
That performance by the world and Olympic time-trial champion – on Belgium‘s national holiday – cut four-time Tour winner Pogacar’s overall lead to 4min 32sec.
“It’s amazing, it was a very nice TT (time-trial), a lot of people on the side of the road,” said Evenepoel.
“My whole family from both sides being here, my parents came just today. My wife is here with her parents and the siblings as well.
“And also on the Belgian national day is pretty special – I read this morning it’s been a while since Belgium won on National Day, so I’m proud to be the one.”
It was Evenepoel’s second successive stage victory after he triumphed on Sunday’s mountainous 15th stage.
Read moreOlympic champ Evenepoel wins Tour de France 15th stage
It was his fourth Tour stage victory overall, and his third in time-trials.
He also extended the gap to third-placed Isaac del Toro to more than two minutes.
But it was a miserable day for Evenepoel’s Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe team-mate Florian Lipowitz.
Two days after two-time former winner Jonas Vingegaard crashed out of the Tour while sitting second overall, German Lipowitz went down hard on a bend and was forced out of the race.
Read moreDenmark’s Jonas Vingegaard, in second place in Tour de France, withdraws after fall
He had been fifth overall until that point and had set the fourth fastest time in the three intermediate time-checks.
But several minutes after he crashed, Lipowitz was escorted to a medical vehicle holding his left arm.
“That’s very unfortunate, it’s like a bittersweet pill to swallow with this victory, so I wish him all the best and I hope it’s not too bad,” Evenepoel said of his teammate.
Both Pogacar and Del Toro had a scare going through the same bend where Lipowitz fell but managed to stay upright.
‘Mixed emotions’
From the moment Evenepoel began his time-trial, it was clear he was on course to do something special.
Once the top 10 contenders began their races against the clock, Skjelmose set the fastest time, well ahead of the best of the rest.
Lipowitz, Del Toro and French teenage prodigy Paul Seixas were only a handful of seconds behind at the three time-checks.
But when Evenepoel went through the first, it was clear that he was riding at a different pace.
Only Pogacar could stay within potential touching distance but he was seven seconds down at the first time-check, with Skjelmose 22sec back.
Those gaps ballooned to 14sec and 56sec by the second time-check.
That was the uphill part of the course and was where Evenepoel gained most of his time.
On the following descent and then a flat run to the finish, he gained only eight seconds on Skjelmose, 10 on Seixas and 13 on Pogacar.
“I think it was a really good execution from start to finish, he had good control,” said Red Bull sporting director Klaas Lodewyck.
“It’s mixed emotions, let’s say. We’re over the moon with the win from Remco, but the loss of Lipo was a big blow for the team.”
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)Â
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