BYU has been running wild thus far in 2026.
Through three games, the Cougars have racked up 788 total rushing yards — including a collective 332-yard outburst at Colorado State last weekend — at an average of 6.7 yards per carry.
Pro Football Focus currently rates BYU as the No. 2 rush offense in the country, ranking behind only Georgia.
Yes, it’s early. While the Cougars did already play a conference foe in Arizona, their other matchups have featured Group of Six and FCS competition.
But BYU’s initial rushing numbers would still be impressive against anyone — and there’s plenty of reason to believe they can remain prolific going forward, even as the rest of the schedule is devoid of cupcakes.
Only one Cougars team has ever eclipsed 3,000 yards on the ground in a single season, 2013’s Taysom Hill and Jamaal Williams-led crew, which gashed opposing defenses for 3,475 yards in 13 games.
Additionally, only on five occasions (1983, 2001, 2013, 2020, 2021 and 2022) has BYU averaged more than five yards per carry for the year.
The 2026 Cougars could certainly join such company.
LJ Martin remains one of the top tailbacks in college football, having earned Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year honors and now sits just 131 yards away from becoming BYU’s fourth individual 3,000-yard career rusher. With another 1,033 yards, he’d pass Williams for the program’s all-time rushing record.
Good things happen for BYU when Martin totes the rock, as the Cougars are 17-2 lifetime when he logs at least 15 carries. Against Arizona earlier this month, BYU’s second half comeback was fueled by Martin’s 20 post-halftime touches.
The bruising senior from El Paso, Texas, should be firmly entrenched in the Doak Walker Award conversation by now, if he isn’t already.
Martin may be a capable bell cow — he did claim nearly half of BYU’s 2025 carries, after all — but it appears he’ll now have more help shouldering the rushing load than ever before.
Previously-unproven backups Preston Rex, Journee Tonga and DeVaughn Eka have each flashed in their 2026 action so far, with Tonga running 12 times for 129 yards while Rex and Eka have combined for 160 yards on 22 carries.
Even after losing Sione Moa to a season-ending injury, the Cougar backfield feels deeper than originally anticipated, especially with a punishing, accomplished offensive line paving the way up front.
But it even goes beyond the running backs. Freshman receiver Legend Glasker has emerged as BYU’s jet sweep specialist with two early touchdowns, and don’t forget about quarterback Bear Bachmeier’s 527 yards and 11 end zone trips as a true freshman a year ago.
While Bachmeier ran more than 10 times per game in 2025, such frequency has dipped to just 12 total attempts across three games this season. His sophomore leap as a passer may eat into his rushing duties, but when he does take off, he averages more than halfway to a first down. The former fullback will always pose the threat to run — and run people over.
Furthermore, Bachmeier being able to operate a more sophisticated passing attack will force opponents to defend BYU more honestly.
If a team crowds the box to stop Martin, Bachmeier can make it pay through the air. If the Cougars face drop coverages to neutralize Glasker, Kyler Kasper, BYU’s tight end tandem and the running backs will feast.
It’s a pick-your-poison offense, and one that will yield significant ground yardage.
Should the Cougars live up to their preseason hype and return to the Big 12 championship game, they’ll play 14 contests in 2026 — or more, depending on if they can reach the College Football Playoff and score a first round win.
Thus, BYU can get to 3,000 rushing yards if it averages just over 200 per game across its next 11 outings. With 245 per game, the Cougars could surpass the 2013 squad in the school record books, but averaging 186 yards would be enough to unseat 2001 for second place in a single season.
BYU averaged 178 rushing yards per game in 2025 with less receiving depth, Martin and Bachmeier logging 72% of the carries and Martin missing time with injuries. The Cougars’ current situation is much more favorable for their ground game, putting the 200 mark each week well within reach.
And if Martin, Bachmeier and company do keep running for 200 yards per game, they’ll probably run straight into the Playoff.
