BYU has suffered a significant blow to its offense as the Cougars prepare for the heart of their Big 12 schedule. 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 suffered the injury during BYU’s 17-10 win over TCU last weekend and did not return to the game.
The timeline means Martin will miss Friday night’s home game against Iowa State and, barring an unexpectedly quick recovery, BYU’s massive showdown with No. 3 Notre Dame on Oct. 17.
Martin’s absence is a major loss for a BYU team trying to remain unbeaten and establish itself as a serious Big 12 and College Football Playoff contender.
LJ Martin’s Resume
The senior was named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year in 2025 after becoming one of the most productive running backs in the country. Martin entered the 2026 season as the centerpiece of the Cougars’ rushing attack and one of the biggest offensive weapons on a team that has climbed to No. 8 in the AP Top 25.
Through four games in 2026, Martin has rushed for 344 yards and three touchdowns on just 44 carries, averaging an impressive 7.8 yards per attempt, while adding five catches for 41 yards. For his BYU career, Martin has piled up 2,885 rushing yards and 26 rushing touchdowns on 526 carries, along with 62 receptions for 439 yards and three receiving scores. In total, Martin has accounted for 3,324 yards from scrimmage and 29 touchdowns during his four seasons with the Cougars.
BYU Reaction
BYU head coach Kalani Sitake offered a somewhat encouraging update after the TCU game, noting that Martin and linebacker Isaiah Glasker — who was also injured — weren’t on crutches.
“It wasn’t like those guys were on crutches or anything like that,” Sitake said. “So I’m encouraged with that.”
However, Martin’s injury will now keep him sidelined for at least a month.
The timing is particularly difficult for BYU. After hosting Iowa State on Friday night, the Cougars will turn their attention to the highly anticipated matchup against Notre Dame before returning to Big 12 play.
Martin’s four-to-six-week timetable could also keep him out for several additional conference games, putting added pressure on BYU’s running back depth as the Cougars try to stay in the Big 12 championship race.
