AMBLER, Pennsylvania — BYU running back LJ Martin and quarterback Bear Bachmeier were named to the watch list for the 90th Maxwell Award, presented by the Maxwell Football Club to the most outstanding player in college football.
The 2026 Maxwell Award watch list is comprised of 81 players, including 15 from the Big 12 Conference. BYU is one of just 16 schools to have at least two of its student-athletes named to the watch list.
MARTIN, a 6-foot-2, 225-pound senior from El Paso, Texas, was named the 2025 Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year. The first-team All-Big 12 running back also received Pro Football Network second-team All-America honors and was a semifinalist for the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award. In addition, he was named All-Big 12 by the Pro Football Network, Pro Football Focus and Sports Info Solutions.
During the 2025 season Martin rushed for 1,305 yards, ranked No. 11 nationally while his average of 100.38 yards per game was 12th. Martin was also No. 13 nationally with 120 all-purpose yards per game and his 1,305 yards were the seventh-most in school history for a single season.
Martin was recently selected Big 12 Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and was named preseason All-America by Athlon Sports and Phil Steele.
BACHMEIER, a 6-foot-2, 230-pound sophomore from Murrieta, California, was honored as conference freshman of the week seven times in 12 weeks during the regular season, on his way to earning the 2025 Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year Award and being named Big 12 Honorable Mention. Bachmeier was a candidate for the Manning Award and was named semifinalist for both the Davey O'Brien Award and the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year. During the 2025 season he was named to the Davey O'Brien Award's Great 8 list twice and was also a Manning Star of the week.
As a freshman in 2025, Bachmeier completed 251 of 387 passes (64.9 percent) for 3,033 yards and 15 touchdowns with just 7 interceptions. He averaged 216.6 yards per game passing and was second on the team in rushing, with 147 carries for 527 yards and 11 scores.
Bachmeier was recently named Phil Steele Preseason All-Big 12.
As offensive co-captains, Martin and Bachmeier helped lead No. 12 BYU to an 11-2 record in 2025, a trip to the Big 12 Championship and an invitation of the Pop-Tarts Bowl.
Semifinalists for the Maxwell Award will be announced Nov. 10, with the three finalists for the award being unveiled Nov. 24. The winner of the 90th Maxwell Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on Dec.10.
Awarded annually since 1937, the Maxwell Award is named in honor of Robert “Tiny” Maxwell, a former standout at the Swarthmore College as well as a renowned sports writer and football official.
BYU kicks off the 2026 football season against Utah Tech on Saturday, Sept. 5 at LaVell Edwards Stadium. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+ with the kickoff scheduled for 6 p.m. MDT