BYU will be without star running back LJ Martin for the near future.

According to ESPN, Martin is expected to be sidelined for four to six weeks with what the team said was a lower-body injury. He was injured in the first half of BYU's 17-10 win over TCU in Week 5 and had been listed as out on the injury report for the No. 8 Cougars' game against Iowa State on Friday night.

Martin has rushed 44 times for 344 yards and three scores this season and has five catches for 41 yards. The Cougars had been able to limit his workload early in the season in preparation for Big 12 play.

The reigning Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year rushed 236 times for 1,305 yards and 12 scores in 2025 as BYU made the conference title game. This season, the Cougars are the highest-ranked Big 12 team in the AP Top 25 through the first five weeks of the season.

No other player on BYU's roster outside of QB Bear Bachmeier has more than 20 carries. Journee Tonga is the team's second-leading running back with 19 carries for 157 yards and a TD. Tonga rushed 10 times for 91 yards in BYU's Sept. 19 win over Colorado State and had seven carries for 28 yards against TCU.

Bachmeier handled the bulk of the rushing workload against the Horned Frogs with 15 carries for 66 yards. He rushed for more yards than he threw, as he was just 11-of-24 passing for 62 yards.

Martin's absence may significantly hinder BYU's chances against Notre Dame on Oct. 17. The No. 3 Fighting Irish visit Provo in Week 7, and the Cougars also have a road game against No. 12 Utah on Nov. 7.

Source: Yahoo Sports