BYU’s LJ Martin Injured in Game Against Iowa State

AMES, Iowa – BYU running back LJ Martin left the Cougars’ game against Iowa State on Saturday, October 25, after sustaining an apparent injury during the first half. The No. 11 Cougars found themselves trailing 17-7 after a challenging first quarter.

Martin exited the game after his final run of the first quarter and went to the medical tent for evaluation. After a brief assessment on the sideline, he walked to the locker room with medical personnel, and FOX reported that he would not return for the remainder of the game.

His absence puts a significant burden on true freshman Bear Bachmeier to lead the BYU offense moving forward. This comes at a critical time as the Cougars are vying for a victory against the Iowa State Cyclones at Jack Trice Stadium.

The Cyclones opened the game with a 75-yard touchdown on their first play from scrimmage, quickly setting a challenging tone for BYU. While the Cougars managed to respond with a scoring drive, their defense struggled against Iowa State’s powerful rushing attack, allowing the Cyclones to outgain BYU 192 yards to 81 in the first quarter alone.

Additionally, BYU was penalized three times and failed to convert on their only attempt to gain a first down on third down. Looking ahead, BYU will take a bye week before gearing up for a matchup against the Texas Tech Red Raiders on Saturday, November 8, with kickoff details yet to be announced.