Baylor’s trip to Provo just got a lot more interesting. BYU running back LJ Martin is expected to miss the next four to six weeks with a lower body injury, according to Pete Thamel, after getting hurt in the Cougars’ recent win over TCU.
That timeline puts his status in question for the Nov. 14 matchup with Baylor, and it also means BYU will be without one of its biggest offensive pieces for at least the next month. Martin’s absence could force the Cougars to rethink how they want to attack teams while he’s out.
The injury details haven’t been made public, but the expectation is that Martin will be sidelined for roughly a month. Whether he’s ready to return by the time Baylor arrives in Provo, or whether the recovery stretches past that point, remains to be seen.
Martin has been a central part of BYU’s recent success, and the Cougars will feel the loss. He was also named the Big 12 offensive player of the year in 2025, and he’ll miss at least four to six weeks, including the home game against No.
3 Notre Dame on Oct. 17.
Even with Martin out, BYU still has other options on offense. But losing a player of his caliber - especially one who serves as a team captain - changes the picture.
For Baylor, the timing is encouraging. The Bears head to Provo, then return home to Waco for Texas Tech before closing the regular season in Houston against Houston. That stretch gives Baylor three straight games against some of the Big 12’s toughest opponents.
And right now, Baylor’s defense is carrying real momentum. The Bears haven’t allowed 20 points in a game yet this season, and if that continues over the next month, they’ll be in good shape.
Joe Klanderman’s group has set the tone, with Hosea Wheeler, Traevon “Slug” Mitchell and the defensive line leading the way up front. Behind them, Travion Barnes, Kyland Reed and the linebackers have been steady, while Reggie Bush II, Micah Gifford and the Baylor secondary have helped make this a defense that has shown no fear so far.
In Other News...
BYU's Biggest Offensive Concern Didn't Go Away In The Iowa State Win
BYU got a much-needed win over Iowa State, and Bear Bachmeier had a hand in just about all of it. The quarterback threw for 329 yards and two touchdowns while adding 109 yards on the ground, giving the Cougars enough juice to control the game even without injured running back LJ Martin in the lineup.
Kalani Sitake liked the result, but the bigger offensive question still lingers. With Martin sidelined, BYU leaned heavily on Bachmeier and did not get the kind of production it usually wants from the rest of the backfield, leaving the Cougars with a familiar development task as they move deeper into the season. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Got The Breakout It Needed Before Notre Dame
Missing its top offensive threat in LJ Martin, BYU still found a way to leave Iowa State with a 21-10 win, and the performance came at a timely moment with Notre Dame looming. The Cougars needed someone else to carry the load, and sophomore quarterback Bear Bachmeier answered with his most complete showing yet, throwing for 329 yards and adding a career-high 109 on the ground.
Walker Lyons and Roger Saleapaga II also became important pieces in the passing game, giving BYU a different kind of balance when it needed it most. For a team trying to sort out its identity heading into a marquee matchup, the bigger question now is whether this kind of all-around production can hold up when the competition level rises again. [Read more 🡒]
BYU's Playoff Path Suddenly Runs Through One Massive Test
With Week 6 arriving, the playoff picture is already starting to take shape, and BYU is firmly tied to it through the kind of test that can redefine a season. The Cougars have played well enough to stay in the conversation, but the next stretch will tell the real story as college footballs biggest conferences keep sorting out contenders and pretenders around them.
This is the part of the calendar when every result seems to carry extra weight, especially for a BYU team watching the wider race while trying to protect its own spot in the mix. The preview of the weekend slate points to injury questions, high-profile matchups and shifting expectations across the SEC, Big Ten and beyond, but for BYU the focus is narrower now: one massive challenge looms, and everything about the playoff path suddenly runs through it. [Read more 🡒]