LJ Martin News, Rumors, Updates - BYU Cougars

Baylor opens critical season for Dave Aranda when it faces Auburn in Big 12's game of the week

Baylor opens a make-or-break season for seventh-year coach Dave Aranda when it faces Auburn at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta

6 DAYS AGO • Associated Press

Bear Bachmeier and LJ Martin ready to deliver on offense for No. 14 BYU as it eyes Big 12 title

Bear Bachmeier and LJ Martin return to lead the offense for No. 14 BYU after helping the Cougars finish as runner-up to Texas Tech in the Big 12 last season

AUGUST 27 • Associated Press

Texas Tech seeks Big 12 repeat while BYU among teams trying to be 7th different champ in 7 seasons

The Big 12 Conference has had six different champions in the past six seasons

AUGUST 21 • Associated Press

Depth and experience make No. 14 BYU an instant Big 12 title contender again this season

BYU finished as runner-up behind Texas Tech in the Big 12 last season and is in good shape to contend for a league title again

AUGUST 20 • Associated Press

CFB Risers And Fallers: Last Season's Top 25 vs. Preseason 138 Rankings

Comparing RJ Young's end-of-season top-25 rankings compared to his 2026 Ultimate 138 preseason ranking.

AUGUST 19 • FOX SPORTS

CFB Risers And Fallers: Last Season's Top 25 vs. Preseason 138 Rankings

Texas puts 4 players on preseason AP All-America team; 14 of the 27 first-team picks are from SEC

Texas led all teams with four players named to the preseason Associated Press All-America team and the Southeastern Conference had 14 of the 27 first-team selections

AUGUST 18 • Associated Press

6 must-watch matchups that could play key role in setting the 2026 College Football Playoff field

The road to the 2026 College Football Playoff could hinge on several key games

AUGUST 12 • Associated Press

2026 College Football Rankings: Oregon Or Notre Dame At No. 1 In Preseason Top 25?

FOX Sports' Joel Klatt released his preseason college football top 25 rankings.

AUGUST 10 • FOX SPORTS

2026 College Football Rankings: Oregon Or Notre Dame At No. 1 In Preseason Top 25?

Full go for fall camp Martin (shoulder) is good to go in fall camp and ahead of the 2026 season, according to Carly Ludlow of BYU's official site.

Impact Martin underwent shoulder surgery in December and didn't participate in spring ball, but he's ready to roll for the new campaign, even though he admitted he needs reps to get back to his pre-injury levels. Martin is coming off a breakout campaign at BYU in which he ran for 1,305 yards and 12 touchdowns on 5.5 yards per carry, while also reeling in 36 catches for 255 yards, in 13 contests.

AUGUST 5 • ROTOWIRE

Michigan, LSU To CFP? Ranking The 10 Teams Most Likely To Make Debut In 12-Team Format

Here are the 10 teams FOX Sports' Joel Klatt believes could make their first appearance in the 12-team College Football Playoff in 2026.

JULY 22 • FOX SPORTS

Michigan, LSU To CFP? Ranking The 10 Teams Most Likely To Make Debut In 12-Team Format

Yahoo Sports launches college fantasy football leagues featuring Power Four players and Notre Dame

Yahoo Sports is launching college fantasy football leagues featuring a pool of players from Power Four conferences and Notre Dame

JULY 9 • Associated Press

BYU's LJ Martin Leads Six Cougars on Preseason All-Big 12 Team On Monday, the Big 12 conference announced the Big 12 preseason awards. BYU star running back LJ Martin was named the Big 12 Preseason Offen...

JULY 6 • SI.COM

BYU Has Fewer Question Marks Than Ever Going Into Big 12 Media Days On Tuesday, BYU will take the stage for Big 12 media days. Six veteran BYU players will be in Frisco to participate in the event: Bear Bachm...

JULY 6 • SI.COM

What LJ Martin Needs to Do to Become BYU's All-Time Leading Rusher in 2026 Since LJ Martin stepped on BYU's campus, he has made a big impact for the BYU offense. Despite being part of a crowded running back room in...

JUNE 8 • SI.COM

Avoiding contact but progressing Martin (shoulder) is sitting out all contact drills during BYU's spring practice but is working through his injury and is expected to be a full go by fall camp, per The Deseret New...

Impact Martin is coming off a breakout campaign at BYU in which he ran for 1,305 yards and 12 touchdowns on 5.5 yards per carry, also reeling in 36 catches for 255 yards. The start tailback, who should be one of the best ball-carriers in the Big 12 this fall, remains limited this spring but it's a good sign that he's expected to be a full go by fall camp.

APRIL 10 • ROTOWIRE

Still recovering from surgery Martin is still recovering from his December shoulder surgery at the start of spring camp, Zachary Halliday of BYU Daily Universe reports.

Impact Martin underwent surgery three months ago to correct a shoulder injury he sustained earlier in the 2025 season, and the senior tailback isn't a full go to start spring camp. While he'll still have plenty of time to recover before the season begins, his health is worth monitoring due to his massive output when healthy. In 2025, Martin rushed for 1,305 yards and 12 touchdowns, averaging 5.5 yards per carry.

MARCH 2 • ROTOWIRE

Deadspin | BYU RB LJ Martin out of Pop-Tarts Bowl due to surgery Deadspin | BYU RB LJ Martin out of Pop-Tarts Bowl due to surgery

DECEMBER 24, 2025 • DEADSPIN.COM

BYU Will Be Without its Top Two Running Backs For Pop-Tarts Bowl BYU will be without its top two running backs in the Pop-Tarts Bowl against Georgia Tech. BYU provided a depth chart on Tuesday and neither...

DECEMBER 23, 2025 • SI.COM

Missing bowl game Martin won't play in Saturday's Bowl Game against Georgia Tech and will undergo shoulder surgery, Mitch Harper of KSL News Salt Lake City reports.

Impact Martin will undergo surgery to correct a shoulder injury he sustained in October against Iowa State. He played through the injury for the rest of the season, but he'll opt to undergo surgery now to begin the rehab process and prevent further injury. Martin rushed 236 times for 1,305 yards and 12 touchdowns this season.

DECEMBER 23, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

AP All-Big 12: Texas Tech has 7 first-team picks with LB Jacob Rodriguez the top defender

Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez is The Associated Press Big 12 defensive player of the year

DECEMBER 11, 2025 • Associated Press

Great despite bad loss Martin totaled 19 carries for 76 yards and one touchdown and reeled in 7 of 8 targets for 31 yards during Saturday's 34-7 defeat versus Texas Tech.

Impact Martin was one of BYU's few bright spots in a loss that ultimately cost the Cougars a spot in the College Football Playoff. He logged a season-high in targets, which led to that for reception as well. The running back has scored in each of BYU's last four games, with seven touchdowns in said span. Even though Martin logged great 2023 and 2024 seasons, his 2025 campaign has been unparalleled. In this year alone, he has logged more rushing yards (1,305), receiving yards (255) and rushing touchdowns (12) than those from his first two seasons combined.

DECEMBER 8, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

BYU's playoff case faces a harsh reality of another lopsided loss to Texas Tech

BYU doesn't seem to have much chance to make the College Football Playoff after a 34-7 loss to Texas Tech in the Big 12 Championship Game

DECEMBER 6, 2025 • Associated Press

Big 12 coaches select BYU RB Martin and Texas Tech LB Rodriguez for top honors

Big 12 coaches have selected BYU running back LJ Martin as the league’s top offensive player and Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez as the top defender

DECEMBER 4, 2025 • Associated Press

Texas Tech Plays CFP Hopeful BYU for Big 12 Title in Dream Rematch

BYU's Kalani Sitake and Texas Tech's Joey McGuire have manifested their shared dream of reaching the Big 12 championship game, and now BYU's...

DECEMBER 4, 2025 • FOX SPORTS

Texas Tech Plays CFP Hopeful BYU for Big 12 Title in Dream Rematch

Bear Bachmeier's emergence at quarterback powered BYU to Big 12 title game

Bear Bachmeier has carved a unique spot for himself among BYU’s long list of successful quarterbacks