BYU running back LJ Martin will be sidelined for at least a month with a lower body injury, sources told ESPN's Pete Thamel on Wednesday.
Martin, the Big 12's Offensive Player of the Year in 2025, suffered the injury in the first quarter of the No. 8 Cougars' 17-10 win at TCU on Saturday and did not return. He's expected to miss four to six weeks, including BYU's home game against No. 3 Notre Dame on Oct. 17.
The 6-foot-2, 225-pound senior rushed for 1,305 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2025 while helping the Cougars win 12 games and reach the Big 12 championship game. Martin has rushed for 344 yards and three scores on 7.8 yards per carry this season, including a 176-yard performance against Colorado State.
Martin is the No. 5 ranked running back prospect for the 2027 draft according to ESPN's Jordan Reid.
Freshman Journee Tonga will see an uptick in carries for the Cougars (4-0, 2-0 Big 12) in Martin's absence and has rushed for 157 yards and a touchdown on 8.3 yards per carry in his debut season.
BYU linebacker Isaiah Glasker and running back Sione Moa have also been ruled out for the Cougars' home game against Iowa State on Friday (10:15 p.m. ET, ESPN), and safety Raider Damuni was listed as doubtful in the initial availability report released Tuesday.