BYU availability report for top-10 clash at Utah
Nov 4, 2026, 9:47 PM | Updated: 10:02 pm
PROVO — The initial BYU football availability report is out ahead of Saturday’s rivalry matchup against No. 3 Utah.
The notable name on the list, running back LJ Martin.
Instead of being listed as “OUT,” which is where he’s been since suffering an injury on October 3 against TCU, the reigning Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year is listed as “DOUBTFUL.”
BYU-Utah availability report.
LJ Martin listed as “DOUBTFUL.” Same with TE Roger Saleapaga. pic.twitter.com/MoLLVdVCNy
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 5, 2026
Under the Big 12 football’s official reporting policy, that means Martin is, at this point, “unlikely to play,” with a 25% chance of playing.
This season, only two Big 12 players in the entire league have gone from an initial report of “Doubtful” to “Available” at week’s end.
Both were Colorado players, and it happened on September 26 at Baylor. A handful of other players in the league have progressed from an initial report of “Doubtful” to a “Game-time decision.”
Martin has been practicing this week as he continues to work his way from a lower-body injury he suffered early in the win at TCU.
Other notables for BYU include starting cornerback Evan Johnson and tight end Roger Saleapaga.
Saleapaga suffered an injury on a first-down catch late in the fourth quarter in the win against Arizona State last week. Johnson is still working his way back from a lower-body injury he suffered in the loss at UCF on October 24.
The players listed as “OUT” for BYU include a trio of guys who have been out for a while: Jonathan Kabeya, Pierson Watson, and Seth Shigg.
Defensive end Vincent Tautua is a new addition to the availability report under the “OUT” designation. Tautua saw his first game action last week, in Week 3 at Colorado State, but he’s OUT a week later.
On the positive side for BYU, there’s no mention of running back Preston Rex. He’s expected to be available this week against the Utes.
Then, kickoff specialist Brody Laga is listed as “Probable.” He’s been out since suffering a bye week injury in September. Last week, he went through pregame warmups but didn’t play.
BYU football availability report for Utah week
OUT
- CB #2 Jonathan Kabeya
- LB #23 Pierson Watson
- CB #39 Seth Shigg
- DE #52 Vincent Tautua
DOUBTFUL
- CB #0 Evan Johnson
- TE #2 Roger Saleapaga II
- RB #4 LJ Martin
QUESTIONABLE
- SAF #37 Joseph Douglas
- DE #46 Kendal Wall
- DE #59 Siosefa Brown
PROBABLE
- K #99 Brody Laga
No. 9 BYU at No. 3 Utah
Date: Saturday, November 7, 2026
Kickoff: 10 a.m. (MST)
TV: ABC
Radio: KSL NewsRadio (102.7 FM, 1160 AM)
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSL and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast daily on KSL Sports YouTube and KSL NewsRadio (SUBSCRIBE). Harper also co-hosts Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL NewsRadio.
Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU athletics in the Big 12 Conference on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram: @Mitch_Harper.
