Iowa State is walking into one of its toughest assignments of the 2026 season on Friday night, but the Cyclones caught a break before ever boarding the plane to Provo.
BYU, ranked No. 8 in the country, will be missing some major pieces when Iowa State arrives for the Week 6 matchup. The Cougars are coming off a road game against TCU in Fort Worth, and now they’ll try to defend their 2-0 Big 12 record without one of their biggest offensive threats.
Leading rusher LJ Martin has already been ruled out after suffering a lower-leg and right ankle injury against TCU. The 2025 Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year has been a central part of BYU’s offense this season, carrying 44 times for 344 yards and three touchdowns. He has also caught five passes for 41 yards, and his 385 yards from scrimmage are the most on the team.
BYU will also be without another running back, Sione Moa, who has six carries for 22 yards this season. That leaves the Cougars thinner than usual in the backfield, and it’s a notable development for an Iowa State defense that has had issues at times stopping the run.
Even so, the Cyclones have gotten solid production when called upon from Journee Tonga and Preston Rex, and Martin’s absence changes the equation.
The other major blow for BYU comes on defense, where linebacker Isaiah Glasker will sit out with a lower-body injury. A 2024 All-American, Glasker leaves a real hole in the middle of the Cougars’ defense, and that gives Iowa State offensive coordinator Tyler Roehl a chance to attack in different ways.
That matters because the Cyclones’ run game, led by Aiden Flora, has been rolling, and quarterback Jaylen Raynor’s passing game is starting to find its rhythm.
Iowa State’s availability report brought no major surprises on its side. The Cyclones will be without three defensive players: safety Drew Surges, defensive end Caden Crawford and defensive tackle Ka'Mori Moore.
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