BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff is withdrawing from BYU and intends to enroll in another school to play football for the 2025 football season, CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz confirms.
Retzlaff was accused of sexual assault in a civil lawsuit that was dismissed on June 30. Still, he faces a potential lengthy suspension for violating the BYU honor code. Rather than sit through the punishment, the Cougars quarterback is looking for another home for 2025.
With Retzlaff departing, McCae Hillstead and Treyson Bourguet are the favorites to win the starting job at BYU. Class of 2025 prospects Bear Bachmeier and Nolan Keeney both joined the program over the summer as well. But while there are talented options in the room, the loss of Retzlaff dramatically shapes the Big 12 race.
The Cougars were one of a handful of teams to hover around 7- or 8-to-1 odds to win the Big 12. According to FanDuel, BYU now sits at 19-to-1 odds, behind Kansas and narrowly ahead of Cincinnati. Their win total also slipped from 7.5 to 6.5, signaling a team going from potential contention to fighting for bowl eligibility.
BYU was led by its defense during a breakout season, but much was asked of Retzlaff. The former junior college transfer was directly responsible for 66% of BYU’s total offense between his arm and legs, and scored 26 of the Cougars’ 41 offensive touchdowns. Running backs LJ Martin and Hinckley Ropati both missed several games with injuries, making his role more vital.
“My job as a head coach is to get everybody ready to roll and I’m really excited about our program and our team and proud of what we have coming back combined with the talent that we brought in and developed within the program. I feel like we’re in a good spot. I’m excited to get that…
Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/jake-retzlaff-to-withdraw-from-byu-whos-next-up-at-qb-for-cougars-can-they-still-contend-for-big-12-title/
Author : Shehan Jeyarajah
Publish date : 2025-07-11 20:37:00
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