Star running back LJ Martin of No. 9 BYU is trending toward dressing and being available to play in the Cougars' showdown against No. 3 Utah in Salt Lake City, sources told ESPN's Pete Thamel on Wednesday.
Martin is officially doubtful for the game, per the initial Big 12 availability report released Wednesday night, but sources said the reigning conference Offensive Player of the Year is trending toward playing Saturday and having some impact on the game, although he's not expected to be 100% if he does go.
A final decision will be made later in the week.
Martin has been sidelined since suffering a lower-body injury in a 17-10 win at TCU on Oct. 3. He was expected to miss four to six weeks, sources told ESPN at the time.
The Cougars have gone 3-1 in his absence, the loss by 39-31 in double overtime at UCF a week after they knocked off Notre Dame. Sione Moa and Preston Rex have mostly filled in during Martin's absence.
A 6-foot-2, 225-pound senior, Martin rushed for 1,305 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2025 while helping the Cougars win 12 games and reach the Big 12 championship game. He had 344 yards rushing and three scores on 7.8 yards per carry this season before the injury.
BYU has won three straight in a Holy War rivalry marked by close games. Utah's losses in that run have come by an average margin of 4.3 points.
