Oct 10, 2026 · 1h 40m
BYU tests its depth before pivotal Iowa State clash
Best of BYU Sports Nation - Week Oct 5 - Oct 9
With L.J. Martin’s status uncertain, BYU’s undefeated season and conference position hinge on whether its next-man-up identity holds against Iowa State.
- 1BYU’s defense and special teams rescued a difficult TCU win while offensive questions remain unresolved.
- 2Analysts argue BYU can absorb Martin’s absence through depth, line play, defensive strength, and adaptable schemes.
- 3The Iowa State matchup carries conference, playoff, and momentum stakes before BYU’s announced Notre Dame primetime game.
Don't miss
Brady Poppinga explains why BYU’s depth and identity can sustain the team without L.J. Martin, while specifying what Martin’s explosiveness would still provide.
The brief
BYU’s ugly win over TCU becomes the starting point for a larger question: can defense, special teams, and depth compensate if L.J. Martin cannot play?
The Iowa State preview weighs BYU’s undefeated standing, playoff stakes, home-field history, and the many winning streaks attached to a pivotal conference matchup.
Jaren Hall and Brady Poppinga make the next-man-up case, while Trey Alexander and Journey Tonga offer player-level views of defensive preparation and replacing Martin.
Rankings, over-under predictions, injury updates, and Big 12 overreactions test how much confidence BYU deserves before Iowa State and the announced Notre Dame primetime game.
The closing Deep Blue feature shifts from football pressure to identity, following Kalani Sitake’s transformational family journey to Tonga and the history behind it.