LJ Martin ran all over Cincinnati’s defense and BYU’s defense came through in enough key moments to beat Cincinnati 26-14 Saturday night on the road.
In a game where Chase Roberts went out in the first half with a reported hamstring injury and Bear Bachmeier struggled, LJ Martin carried the ball 32 times for 222 yards and 2 touchdowns. LJ was also BYU’s leading receiver, catching 3 passes for 44 yards. Bear Bachmeier completed 15/25 passes for 127 yards and ran for 46 yards and 1 rushing TD.
Cincinnati
missed all three field goals it attempted, and BYU stuffed the Bearcats on 4th & 1 inside the five-yard line in the first half. BYU picked off Brendan Sorsby once and recovered another fumble in the fourth quarter when the Bearcats were driving. Sorsby threw for 300 yards, but BYU narrowly won the yardage battle 392-387 and won the turnover battle 2-0.
BYU moves to 10-1 on the season and will clinch a spot in the Big 12 title game with either a loss by Arizona State next Friday to Arizona or a win themselves at home versus UCF. BYU still has at-large hopes for the College Football Playoff, but are currently the first team out and will need at least one of the two-loss teams ahead of them to lose.
