BYU’s Depth Is Already Being Tested. Iowa State Will Show Whether It’s Enough

BYU left Fort Worth with a 17–10 win over TCU, but the more important question coming out of the game may be who is available for Iowa State. LJ Martin and Isaiah Glasker both left with injuries, Cannon DeVries also exited, and freshman Bott Mulitalo made his first start at left tackle in place of Andrew Gentry. Kalani Sitake offered some encouragement afterward, saying Martin and Glasker were standing, moving and not on crutches, but evaluations and imaging would determine what comes next.

Until those answers arrive, the best indication of how BYU might handle the injuries is what happened after Martin went down. He had only two carries for 16 yards before leaving, forcing the Cougars to turn to Journee Tonga, Preston Rex and Legend Glasker. The three combined for 75 rushing yards on 19 carries, while Bear Bachmeier added 66 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.

Those numbers do not suggest Martin is easily replaceable. They do show that BYU has enough options to keep the running game functional without asking one backup to duplicate everything Martin does.

Rex summed up the situation after the game by calling it the backups’ “time to step up,” and BYU got enough production from them to finish the job. Tonga’s 14-yard run on the final touchdown drive helped set up Bachmeier’s 21-yard score, which gave BYU the separation it needed. The offense was hardly explosive, finishing with only 216 total yards, but the Cougars found enough answers to win.

Against Iowa State, simply surviving may not be enough. Aiden Flora is coming off a 212-yard, three-touchdown rushing performance against West Virginia, and the Cyclones have shown they can create explosive plays quickly. If Martin is limited or unavailable, BYU cannot turn its response into a steady diet of quarterback runs and ask Bachmeier to absorb contact all night.

A committee approach makes more sense. BYU can use different backs for different jobs rather than searching for one replacement. One runner can handle short-yardage and inside work, another can stress the perimeter, and Bachmeier’s legs can remain a changeup instead of becoming the entire running game. That would allow the Cougars to preserve much of their offensive identity without pretending the personnel situation has not changed.

The offensive line is part of that equation as well. Mulitalo’s first start came in bad weather against a TCU defense that repeatedly forced BYU into difficult down-and-distance situations. Iowa State presents a different challenge, but the principle remains the same: BYU should make life easier on a young tackle rather than asking him to carry the full burden of the offense. Quick throws, motion and a commitment to running behind the strongest parts of the line can help keep the playbook open.

The defense already showed similar depth against TCU. Isaiah Glasker left the game, but BYU still produced four sacks as Tausili Akana, Nusi Taumoepeau, Braxton Lindsay and Jake Clifton all reached the quarterback. Tommy Prassas led the Cougars with seven tackles, and the defense held TCU to 259 total yards.

That depth will matter against Flora because Iowa State can punish a defense that gets tired or loses gap discipline. BYU will need fresh bodies along the defensive front and clean communication at linebacker and safety. The goal is not for a backup to become Glasker. It is for the next player to execute the same assignment well enough that the structure of the defense does not change.

That may be the biggest lesson from Fort Worth. BYU does not need every replacement to become a star. Tonga does not have to become Martin, and a young tackle does not have to suddenly play like a veteran. Each player needs a specific role and the confidence to execute it.

The Cougars are 4–0 because they have already shown they can win in different ways. Iowa State will test whether that flexibility extends to the depth chart. If Martin and Glasker are available, BYU gains options. If they are limited, the Cougars need a clear plan rather than an emergency adjustment.

Against TCU, “next man up” was enough to survive. Against Iowa State, BYU may need it to become part of the game plan.