BYU's Big 12 title aspirations faced a significant setback on Wednesday when news leaked that star tailback LJ Martin will be out for four to six weeks. The injury occurred during a game against TCU, resulting in a lower-body injury that is expected to sideline the 2025 Big 12 offensive player of the year for at least a month.
According to a report by ESPN's Pete Thamel, Martin's absence will impact several upcoming games, including a home matchup against No. 3 Notre Dame on Oct. 17. The injury timeline suggests Martin could miss the next four games, which include contests against Iowa State, Notre Dame, UCF, and Arizona State. He could also be unavailable for a rivalry game against Utah.
The Cougars face a challenging schedule over the next month, though analysts suggest a path remains to stay in the conference title race. FPI gives BYU an 84% chance to defeat Iowa State and a 90% chance to defeat Arizona State. A road trip to UCF in Orlando presents a 59% win probability for the Cougars. FPI estimates there is an 89% chance that BYU wins at least two of its next three games, and a 45% chance of winning all three against Iowa State, UCF, and Arizona State.
The loss of Martin shifts the offensive focus, potentially requiring the team to rely on quarterback Bear Bachmeier. During the previous season, Bachmeier performed well in games against Iowa State and Georgia Tech when Martin was unavailable. While the Notre Dame game is significant for conference perception, officials suggest that holding serve in conference games is now the top priority for the Cougars.
BYU's next game is scheduled for Friday night against Iowa State, where the team is favored by multiple scores.
