BYU’s offense just took a hit at the worst possible time.
Star running back LJ Martin is expected to miss four to six weeks with a lower-body injury, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel. Martin was hurt in BYU’s 17-10 win over TCU last weekend and never returned to the game.
That recovery window almost certainly rules him out for Friday night’s home game against Iowa State. It also puts his status for BYU’s Oct. 17 showdown with No. 3 Notre Dame in serious doubt, unless he bounces back much faster than expected.
For a Cougars team trying to stay unbeaten and keep building its case as a Big 12 and College Football Playoff contender, this is a tough break. Martin has been the engine of the rushing attack and one of the most important pieces on a BYU offense that has climbed to No. 8 in the AP Top 25.
The senior entered 2026 fresh off being named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year in 2025, and he opened this season exactly like a centerpiece back should. Through four games, Martin has run for 344 yards and three touchdowns on 44 carries, a blistering 7.8 yards per attempt. He has also added five catches for 41 yards.
His full BYU body of work tells the bigger story. Across four seasons, Martin has piled up 2,885 rushing yards and 26 rushing touchdowns on 526 carries, while catching 62 passes for 439 yards and three scores. Altogether, that gives him 3,324 yards from scrimmage and 29 total touchdowns.
After the TCU game, BYU coach Kalani Sitake offered a cautiously optimistic read on the injuries to Martin and linebacker Isaiah Glasker, who was also hurt.
“It wasn’t like those guys were on crutches or anything like that,” Sitake said. “So I’m encouraged with that.”
Now, though, the timetable is clearer - and much less friendly for BYU. The Cougars host Iowa State, then turn around for Notre Dame before jumping back into Big 12 play. Martin’s absence could stretch into multiple conference games, leaving BYU to lean harder on its backfield depth while it tries to stay in the Big 12 championship mix.
In Other News...
BYU Just Rewarded Key Staffers Behind Its Recent Rise
Kevin Young continued to reshape his staff this week by rewarding two key voices behind BYUs recent climb. Brandon Dunson has been elevated to associate head coach, while Jordan Brady was promoted to assistant coach and will keep his duties as Director of Player Development, a sign the program is leaning into the continuity that has helped fuel its surge in recent seasons.
Both coaches have played important roles in a stretch that has included NCAA Tournament appearances and a steady pipeline of player growth that has reached the NBA Draft. BYU also added seven new graduate assistants, giving Young even more depth around the program as the Cougars look ahead to the 2026-27 opener against Ohio State and the next step in the rise. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Has A Real Edge Friday But One Offensive Concern Lingers
BYU gets Iowa State at home Friday on a short week, and the setup tilts in the Cougars favor in more ways than one. Five of their final eight games are in Provo, and the matchups on paper point to a team that has leaned on its defense and efficiency in the biggest situations, especially with an ability to force quick punts and finish drives with touchdowns once it gets inside the red zone.
The concern is on the other side of the ball, where the offense still has to prove it can keep functioning if LJ Martin is not available. Iowa State has had trouble extending drives on third and fourth down and has also been leaky in the red zone, which creates an opening for BYU, but the Cougars still need a clear answer on how much production they can expect from the run game without their star back. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Heads Into Iowa State Showdown With Major Injury Concerns
The buildup to BYUs Week 6 trip to Iowa State has been shaped as much by the injury report as by the matchup itself. The Cougars are headed into a game that already carries plenty of Big 12 weight, but they will have to navigate it without running back LJ Martin and linebacker Isaiah Glasker, two key pieces on opposite sides of the ball.
Iowa State has its own holes to manage, with defenders Drew Surges, Caden Crawford and Ka'Mori Moore all sidelined. That leaves both staffs adjusting on the fly, and for BYU the question is how well the next men up can absorb the loss of proven production in a game where every small edge could matter. [Read more 🡒]