LJ Martin carried BYU to victory (Photo by BYU Athletics)
LJ Martin mauls Cincinnati and carries BYU to victory!
BYU 26, Cincinnati 14
BYU got the ball first and moved it to about midfield before punting. The Cougars returned the favor and forced a UC three-and-out with the help of some loud BYU fans at Nippert Stadium. BYU would get the ball at midfield and would go on a methodical drive that would be capped off by a Bear Bachmeier touchdown run on third and goal. The Cougars would lead 7-0.
UC would start a drive of their own, protecting Brendon Sorsby, getting chunk plays, and getting into the Red Zone. The Bearcats would have fourth and one at the BYU three, and the Cougars, led by Keanu Tanuvasa, would hold on fourth and inches! But the Cougars would go three-and-out. UC would drive again against BYU, reaching the Cougars’ 23-yard line. Cincy would miss a field goal attempt. Getting inside the BYU 25 twice and coming away with no points.
BYU would go on a drive, but an iffy holding penalty would kill it. Poor coverage on a punt would set UC up with great field position. BYU’s defense would allow a touchdown on a busted coverage, and Cincy would tie the game. Another stalled BYU drive would bring in Will Ferrin for a field goal attempt. Ferrin would make a 31-yarder and BYU would lead 10-7 at the half.
Second Half
The second half started off fantastically for BYU. Tanner Wall intercepted UC quarterback Brendan Sorsby, and BYU would go on a 66-yard drive. It would be an LJ Martin heavy drive, so it was only fitting that LJ would go over the 1,000-yard mark on the season on it. Martin would then pay off the drive with a one-yard touchdown run, and BYU would lead 17-7. I called for it, and BYU delivered, and would continue to do so!
The BYU defense would get the offense the ball back, but the offense would stall once again. BYU would punt, but UC being offside on the punt would give BYU the ball back. The Cougars would again get the offense going behind LJ Martin. BYU would get the ball to the UC 15-yard line before the quarter break.
Fourth Quarter
Unfortunately, BYU would have to settle for another Will Ferrin field goal. Ferrin would knock a 32-yarder through, and BYU would lead 20-7. A Cincy drive would get into BYU’s Red Zone before the Bearcats would fumble, and Isaiah Glasker would recover the ball. The next BYU drive would begin with LJ Martin again. BYU would get near midfield before having to punt it back to Cincinnati.
Cincy would immediately start to move the ball, quickly getting to the Red Zone again. BYU would slow Cincy, but not stop them this time. Sorsby would throw a touchdown pass to Caldwell, and all of a sudden, it was 20-14. BYU would keep it simple and hand it to LJ Martin. The Martin Machine would march on. LJ would carry the Cougars, and it looked like they’d run out the clock. But LJ Martin called the game and touchdown!
MartinMania
LJ Martin had 32 carries for 222 yards and two touchdowns, with three receptions for 44 yards. That is Martin’s career high in rushing and total yards. In 2025, LJ Martin has 195 attempts, 1,134 yards, eight touchdowns, and 24 catches for 189 yards. He is the Big 12’s leading rusher and is seventh in all of college football. This was his eighth game with over 100 total yards of offense. Two more games like that and Martin could find himself in New York as a Heisman finalist. A little lost in the MartinMania is that Bear Bachmeier set a BYU record with his 11th rushing touchdown against Cincinnati. That’s the most ever by a BYU quarterback in a single season.
UCF For All the Marbles
The Knights will come to town with a 5-6 record, looking to play spoiler and secure bowl eligibility. BYU will be playing for a whole lot more. It would be their first 11th win in the regular season since 2001. It would be their first back-to-back 11-win seasons since 2006-2007. Importantly, it would secure them a Big 12 title game berth and the chance for an automatic playoff bid with a win. Maybe most importantly, 11 wins seems like it’s a magic number for a Power Four team. If you win 11 games in the regular season in the Big Ten, SEC, Big 12, or ACC, you should be in. That precedent was set by the College Football Playoff Committee last year when the Cougars were snubbed in favor of SMU, when they had beaten SMU head-to-head. Everything is on the line on Saturday in LaVell Edwards Stadium. Time for BYU to rise.
