BYU will be without its star running back, LJ Martin, for the upcoming Pop-Tarts Bowl against Georgia Tech. Head coach Kalani Sitake confirmed the news, stating that Martin recently underwent surgery. The game is scheduled for Saturday in Orlando.

Martin's absence is a significant blow to the No. 12 Cougars, as he was the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year. In his junior season, Martin rushed for 1,305 yards and 12 touchdowns, leading the Big 12 in rushing yards. He also contributed 36 receptions for 255 yards. Martin averaged 5.5 yards per carry throughout the 13 games he played.

Sitake did not disclose the specific nature of Martin's surgery. However, he mentioned that Martin had a small window to get the surgery done, considering Martin is contemplating whether to return for his senior year or enter the 2026 NFL Draft. According to Sitake, postponing the surgery would have been detrimental to either decision.

Martin suffered an apparent shoulder injury against Iowa State on October 25, which limited his playing time in the subsequent weeks. In that game, he only had five carries before exiting. The following week against Texas Tech, he managed just 10 carries, marking his two least productive games of the season.

With Martin sidelined, BYU is expected to rely on the depth of its running back room. The Cougars will likely turn to a mix of players to fill the void against the No. 22 Yellow Jackets. Sione Moa, who was the backup running back in the Big 12 Championship game, had missed most of the season due to complications that arose after the game against ECU. According to Sitake, Moa's complications forced him to go to the hospital.

Martin's best game of the season was against Cincinnati, where he rushed for a season-high 222 yards and two touchdowns. Throughout his junior year, he recorded six games with over 100 rushing yards. According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), Martin earned the second-highest offensive grade on the team, with an 84.0 grade on 699 snaps and an impressive 86.0 run grade.