BYU’s offense didn’t blink when the Cougars lost LJ Martin, and that might be the clearest sign yet of how deep this group has become.
With Martin out after the ankle injury he suffered in the first quarter of the 17-10 win over TCU, and Sione Moa sidelined as well, junior Preston Rex and freshman Journee Tonga had to carry a much bigger load than anyone expected when the season began. They answered it in Saturday’s win over then-No. 2 Notre Dame, and they did it without turning the night into a survival act.
Rex ran for 66 yards, Tonga added 6 on the ground and caught a 12-yard pass, and BYU kept quarterback Bear Bachmeier clean all game. Bachmeier was never sacked, a small detail that says plenty about how well the backup backs handled their work, especially in pass protection.
“I love the fact that we have a bunch of guys that are ready to play, and when they don’t get the opportunity to play, they’re so happy for their brothers that make plays on the field.”
Offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick said Tuesday that Rex put together his best outing so far, while Tonga gave the offense useful snaps even if the box score didn’t jump off the page. He also pointed to freshman Devaughn Eka, who did not get into the game even though the staff expected him to see some action.
“I thought Preston had his best game up to this date, and then Journee didn’t make a lot of yards in the run game, but he did some good things, and then he caught a pass out of the backfield and made one of their best players miss in space and made a 12-yard gain for us,” Roderick said Tuesday. “I just thought Journee did a nice job, too.
And Devaughn (Eka) didn’t get in. That wasn’t exactly the plan.
We thought he was going to play a little, but I still have a lot of confidence in Devaughn.”
Eka, a freshman from Lehi High, has 15 carries for 101 yards this season, and he’s one of five BYU ball-carriers with more than 100 rushing yards. Martin leads the group with 344 yards in four games, followed by Bachmeier with 284, Tonga with 182 and Rex with 181.
Moa, meanwhile, has remained in the conversation. He ran six times for 22 yards in the opener against Utah Tech before his knee injury, and Roderick said his status for Saturday’s game at UCF is still uncertain.
The Cougars and Knights kick off at 1:30 p.m. MDT on Fox.
“He’s closer (to playing than Martin),” Roderick said. “We’re still evaluating him, but he is cleared to play. …
“With him, it’s just a confidence thing. He’s been through a lot, and we’re not pushing him the way we might someone else.”
That caution fits Moa’s injury history. He dealt with a serious case of compartment syndrome last season, and Roderick said the staff is taking its time.
“Sione’s been through some tough things, and so we’re just trying to let him work through it, get his confidence back,” Roderick said. “When he’s ready to go, he’ll be on the field because he’s a very good player, and he makes us better, for sure.”
BYU is also without Jovesa Damuni, cousin of safety Raider Damuni. Jovesa Damuni had a strong Pop-Tarts Bowl performance, rushing for 111 yards and a touchdown after Martin had shoulder surgery and Moa was still working through the injury, but he suffered a serious knee injury in spring camp.
Kalani Sitake said the way the staff has developed the backfield and given reserves meaningful snaps has mattered. He pointed to the payoff after BYU moved to 6-0 for the third straight season, something the program had never done before.
“Yeah, Preston did some really good things (against Notre Dame),” Sitake said. “Even as a receiver, and in pass pro and things like that, he did a great job. I have been really proud of all those guys, guys that have opportunities to play.
“There are a lot of guys that didn’t play at all, but they were ready,” Sitake continued. “I love the fact that we have a bunch of guys that are ready to play, and when they don’t get the opportunity to play, they’re so happy for their brothers that make plays on the field. So, yeah, it was a lot of fun.”
Rex’s path to this moment has been unusual. He moved from safety in 2022-24 to a little-used running back in 2025, then into a much more important role this season. Last year, his biggest damage came as a receiver, including three catches for 50 yards and a 32-yard grab that helped BYU beat Utah.
Against Notre Dame, he showed another gear.
“I just give all the credit to the O linemen,” he said. “They blocked their butts off tonight and gave me some gaps to go through.
We had a good scheme. We had a great blocking plan, so it really helps when you have a quarterback like Bear, too, that they have to respect.
… I just tried to play my role tonight.”
And with Martin out and Moa still being handled carefully, that role matters more than ever.
In Other News...
BYU Could Get A Big Backfield Boost Against UCF
BYUs backfield could get an important lift this week with running back Sione Moa no longer on the injury report for the matchup against UCF. Moa is medically cleared to play, giving the Cougars a potential boost in a spot where depth always matters, even if his actual workload will still come down to how confident and ready he feels once game day arrives.
The rest of BYUs report is relatively light, with right guard Kyle Sfarcioc and safety Tommy Prassas still listed, while UCF is dealing with a much busier set of availability questions. The Knights have starting quarterback Alonza Barnett III marked questionable and five players already ruled out, including offensive lineman Owen Spell and linebacker Lewis Carter, setting up a game where both teams will be watching the injury situation closely right up to kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Just Added A New Threat To Its Big 12 Push
With the Big 12 at its midpoint and three teams still unbeaten in league and overall play, BYU has already done enough to make the conference race feel crowded. The Cougars win over Notre Dame, pulled off despite injuries, has only sharpened the sense that this team belongs in the conversation with the leagues best, especially with several ranked teams still sorting out their own issues and identities.
What makes BYUs position even more interesting is how much turbulence sits around it. Houston has gotten a big lift from Conner Weigmans passing, Texas Tech has found more rhythm on offense, and other contenders have run into problems, from Oklahoma States defensive struggles to Baylors offensive issues and Arizona States in-game quarterback change. For BYU, the next stretch will say plenty about whether its fast start is a real Big 12 platform or just the opening chapter of a tougher climb. [Read more 🡒]
UCF Heads Into BYU Showdown With A Lineup Problem Fans Feared
UCFs trip to face No. 2 BYU comes with more uncertainty than the Knights probably wanted this late in the week. Running back Taevion Swint has already been ruled out because of injury, and the picture around the offense is still murky with quarterback Alonza Barnett III and receiver Duane Thomas Jr. both moving into questionable status. The availability of center Jacob Maiava and guard Owen Spell also matters for an offense that will need to be as clean as possible against one of the nations top teams.
Lewis Carter being ruled out only adds to the challenge on the defensive side, where every missing piece matters against a BYU team that can make opponents pay for even small breakdowns. Cornerback DJ Bell is among the players still working through injury questions, leaving UCF to sort through a lineup that could look different in several spots by kickoff. [Read more 🡒]