BYU Football Star LJ Martin Will Not Play In Pop-Tarts Bowl
Dec 23, 2025, 5:23 PM | Updated: 5:35 pm
BYU football running back LJ Martin will not play in the 2025 Pop-Tarts Bowl. (Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News)
(Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News)
LJ Martin, the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, will not be available on Saturday in the Pop-Tarts Bowl.
The BYU star is recovering from surgery he underwent after the Big 12 Championship Game earlier this month. Martin suffered a shoulder injury in the first quarter of BYU’s win at Iowa State in October.
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BYU head coach Kalani Sitake confirmed that Martin wouldn’t be available on Saturday against No. 22 Georgia Tech.
“With LJ not being able to play in this game, I think everybody kind of knows, there was a small window for him to get this surgery done,” BYU head coach Kalani Sitake said on Tuesday at Pop-Tarts Bowl practice.
The question now becomes, has Martin played his last game as a BYU Cougar?
Martin participated in Senior Day festivities last month at the coaching staff’s advice to walk, in case he declares for the NFL.
However, that decision has not yet been made.
“His decision is going to be whether he comes back and plays his senior year or whether he goes to the NFL,” Sitake said. “With that in mind, there was a small window where he could have the surgery done now, or if he had to wait, it wouldn’t be beneficial for him, either way.”
Martin will join the team later this week in Orlando to be on the sideline and watch BYU try to earn its 12th win of the season.
Replacing Martin will not be easy for BYU.
Martin rushed for 1,305 yards in 13 games this season.
The next running back in rushing yards for BYU this season is Sione Moa at 92 yards. Moa, who played in the Big 12 Championship Game, his first appearance after suffering compartment syndrome, like Martin, is not listed on this week’s depth chart for the Pop-Tarts Bowl.
BYU head coach Kalani Sitake said today at practice that RB LJ Martin will not be playing in the Pop-Tarts Bowl.
Martin had surgery on his shoulder that he injured at Iowa State in October.
The Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year rushed for 1,305 yards in 13 games played this… pic.twitter.com/BsisqWo1P0
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) December 23, 2025
“Some guys are still nursing injuries,” Sitake said on Tuesday.
Moa is currently with the team in Orlando, but his absence from the depth chart could suggest it’s unlikely he will play. BYU’s other running back options include Enoch Nawahine, Jovesa Damuni, and Preston Rex.
After Martin, BYU’s second leading rusher this season was quarterback Bear Bachmeier, who rushed for 527 yards and 11 rushing touchdowns this season.
No. 12 BYU vs. No. 22 Georgia Tech
2025 Pop-Tarts Bowl
Date: Saturday, December 27, 2025
Location: Camping World Stadium (Orlando, Florida)
Kickoff: 1:30 p.m. (MST)
TV: ABC
Radio: KSL NewsRadio (102.7 FM, 1160 AM) — Extended pregame begins at 10 a.m.
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com 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.
