Tag: Retzlaff

Nov 23, 2024; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Brigham Young Cougars quarterback Jake Retzlaff (12) against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Mountain America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Facing suspension, Jake Retzlaff withdraws from BYU

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Embattled quarterback Jake Retzlaff announced Friday that he is withdrawing from BYU, a move that comes after he was recently accused of sexual assault in a civil lawsuit.

Retzlaff contended the sex was consensual. The suit was dismissed June 30 but Retzlaff still faced a seven-game suspension for violating the school’s honor code that prohibits premarital sex.

“After a lot of prayer, reflection, and conversations with those I trust, I’ve made the difficult decision to officially withdraw from BYU and step away from the BYU Football program,” Retzlaff said on Instagram.

“BYU has meant more to me than just football. It’s been a place of growth — spiritually, mentally and physically. I’m grateful for every teammate, coach, staff member and fan who’s supported me along the way. The relationships and memories I’ve made in Provo will always be a part of me.”

Retzlaff will likely walk on to another program in coming weeks.

Retzlaff emerged as a star last season and the school has no clear-cut replacement for the 2025 campaign.

“We are grateful for the time Jake Retzlaff has spent at BYU,” the school’s athletic department said in a statement. “As he moves forward, BYU Athletics understands and respects Jake’s decision to withdraw from BYU, and we wish him all the best as he enters the next phase of his career.”

At this week’s Big 12 media days, coach Kalani Sitake had little to say about Retzlaff.

“We love Jake Retzlaff and appreciate all that he’s done for our program,” Sitake said on Tuesday. “… It would be inappropriate for me to make a statement in his situation.”

The lawsuit alleged that Retzlaff committed the assault in November 2023 at his home in Provo, Utah.

According to the suit, Retzlaff and Jane Doe started to watch a movie in his room and began kissing. The lawsuit says Jane Doe did not want to go any further and asked him to “stop,” but Retzlaff eventually found a condom and assaulted her.

Retzlaff, a California native who began his career playing for Riverside (Calif.) City College, transferred to BYU prior to the 2023 season. After starting the final four games in 2023, he won a training-camp battle to become the Cougars’ regular quarterback in 2024. He led them to an 11-2 record and an Alamo Bowl win over Colorado.

He finished the campaign with 2,947 passing yards, 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound redshirt senior had been expected to reprise his role this fall.

Now Retzlaff will seek to make an impact at another school.

“I’m excited to turn the page and embrace the next chapter,” Retzlaff said. “My journey is far from over — and I’m more motivated than ever to keep chasing my goals.”

BYU opens the season Aug. 30 against visiting Portland State.

–Field Level Media

Jul 8, 2025; Frisco, TX, USA; Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark addresses the media during the 2025 Big 12 Football Media Days at The Star. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images

Big 12 Media Days: BYU to let QB Jake Retzlaff ‘speak for himself’

Posted on | by Field Level Media

BYU coach Kalani Sitake plans to let quarterback Jake Retzlaff speak for himself on the topic of his court matter and seven-game suspension for having premarital sex, a violation of the university honor code.

“First of all, I love Jake Retzlaff,” Sitake said Tuesday at the Big 12 Conference gathering in Frisco, Texas.

“We love Jake Retzlaff and appreciate all that he’s done for our program. I think it would be inappropriate for me to make a statement in his situation first. I think that’s his right. I think it’s a private matter that he can speak for himself, and I’m going to give him the opportunity to do that.”

Retzlaff is planning to transfer, according to reports, rather than return to the program where he faced a civil suit accusing him of sexually assaulting a woman at his home in 2023. The suit was recently dismissed but Sitake said three quarterbacks will compete for the starting job in 2025, but the list of candidates no longer includes Retzlaff.

Two transfers — Treyson Bourguet from Western Michigan and Bear Bachmeier from Stanford — and holdovers from last season are competing with McCae Hillstead. Hillstead is the newest arrival after transferring from Utah State.

Replacing Retzlaff might be more of a concept than a reality.

He led the team in rushing and was responsible for more than 65 percent of the Cougars’ total offense on the way to a 9-0 start in 2024. BYU finished with an 11-2 record and capped the season with a 36-14 blowout of Colorado in the Alamo Bowl.

BYU begins the 2025 season against Portland State on Aug. 30 before facing Stanford (Sept. 6), East Carolina (Sept. 20) and Colorado (Sept. 27).

–Commissioner Brett Yormark stands up for Big 12

A single representative in the expanded College Football Playoff from the Big 12 was not sufficient in the opinion of conference commissioner Brett Yormark.

Arizona State took Texas to double-overtime in the Peach Bowl, a quarterfinal in the first 12-team playoff, but Yormark said his league is the “deepest football conference in America.”

The Big 12, ACC and Notre Dame are supporting a change to the current playoff model, counter the plan of the Big Ten and SEC to load the bracket with teams from their leagues.

For the 2026 season, with 16 teams expected to be in the playoff, Yormark has gained allies who are on board with granting automatic bids to the five highest-rated conference champions with the CFP selection committee deciding how to award 11 at-large bids. The Big Ten touts a model with its teams automatically receiving four bids, and four more going to the SEC.

“We want to earn it on the field. It might not be the best solution today for the Big 12 … but long-term, knowing the progress we’re making, the investments we’re making, it’s the right format for us. And I’m doubling down today on 5-plus-11.”

–Scott Frost comes to grips with ‘wrong move’ to Nebraska

With 16 wins in five seasons at his alma mater Nebraska from 2018-2022, Scott Frost can agree with the sentiment that one can never go home again. He was hired as coach of the Cornhuskers following a 13-0 season at UCF in 2017.

“I got tugged in a direction to try to help my alma mater and didn’t really want to do it. It wasn’t a good move,” Frost said Tuesday. “I’m lucky to get back to a place where I was a lot happier.”

When Gus Malzahn departed UCF to become offensive coordinator at Florida State, the door opened for another return Frost never felt would happen. Now he’s back at UCF with a new perspective.

Frost, 50, worked for the Los Angeles Rams as an offensive consultant last year and was introduced a second time as UCF head coach in December.

“Biggest thing I’ve learned, probably. … You can’t do anything alone,” Frost said, arousing many corners of the Nebraska fanbase on social media with his final, lasting lesson.

“Don’t take the wrong job.”

–Field Level Media

Oct 18, 2024; Provo, Utah, USA; Brigham Young Cougars quarterback Jake Retzlaff (12) warms up before the game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at LaVell Edwards Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images

Report: Sexual assault civil case dropped against BYU QB

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The woman who made sexual assault allegations against BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff dropped her civil lawsuit.

Judge Coral Sanchez of the Third Judicial District Court in Salt Lake County, Utah, approved a joint motion for a dismissal of the case on Monday.

The suit filed in May by a woman identified as Jane Doe A.G. had alleged that Retzlaff bit, raped and strangled her at his Provo apartment in November 2023.

A lawyer for Retzlaff addressed the allegations Friday, calling them “ridiculous” and “bizarre” in a court filing that described the incident as consensual sex.

Retzlaff’s admission of consensual sex still violates BYU’s honor code, which prohibits premarital sex.

The Salt Lake Tribune and ESPN reported Sunday that Retzlaff is facing a seven-game suspension by the school. According to ESPN, he has already begun to inform teammates and coaches about his intention to transfer.

Retzlaff, a California native who began his career playing for Riverside (Calif.) City College, transferred to BYU prior to the 2023 season. After starting the final four games in 2023, he won a training-camp battle to become the Cougars’ No. 1 quarterback in 2024. He led them to an 11-2 record and an Alamo Bowl win over Colorado.

He finished the campaign with 2,947 passing yards, 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound redshirt senior had been expected to reprise his starting role this fall.

–Field Level Media

Nov 23, 2024; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Brigham Young Cougars quarterback Jake Retzlaff (12) against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Mountain America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Reports: BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff sued for sexual assault

Posted on | by Field Level Media

BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff was accused of sexual assault in a civil lawsuit filed Wednesday in Salt Lake (Utah) County, according to multiple media reports.

The lawsuit alleges that Retzlaff committed the assault in November 2023 at his home in Provo, Utah. The woman filing the lawsuit — listed as Jane Doe A.G. — has sued Retzlaff for alleged battery, assault and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

According to the lawsuit, one of the reasons for the delay between the alleged incident and the filing of the civil charges is that Provo police, when the alleged victim linked Retzlaff’s name to the assault, suggested that she stay quiet because “sexual assault victims never get justice.”

In a statement, Retzlaff attorney Mark Baute declared his client to be “factually innocent.”

“I have met him, and he is a nice young man,” said Baute, who successfully defended former NBA star Derrick Rose on federal sexual assault charges in 2016. “He is also factually innocent, and we look forward to proving that innocence. Jake’s focus this year will be on football. We don’t try cases in the media. We will respect the process and establish Jake’s innocence through the judicial system.”

The lawsuit describes Retzlaff, then 20, and the alleged victim as initiating contact via social media before Jane Doe and her friend visited Retzlaff’s home in November 2023. After a period of time, the friend left and Retzlaff and Jane Doe started to watch a movie in his room and began kissing. The lawsuit says Jane Doe did not want to go any further and asked him to “stop,” but Retzlaff eventually found a condom and assaulted her.

A few days later, she went to the hospital and a rape kit was used for purposes of gathering and preserving any potential evidence of assault. Doe also reportedly told Provo police of the incident at this time, yet did not invoke Retzlaff’s name.

BYU released a statement Wednesday: “BYU became aware today that a civil lawsuit involving Jake Retzlaff had been filed this morning. The university takes any allegation very seriously, following all processes and guidelines mandated by Title IX. Due to federal and university privacy laws and practices for students, the university will not be able to provide additional comment.”

Retzlaff, a California native who began his career playing for Riverside (Calif.) City College, transferred to BYU prior to the 2023 season. After starting the final four games of the 2023 season, Retzlaff won a training-camp battle to become the Cougars’ regular quarterback in 2024. He led them to an 11-2 record that included an Alamo Bowl win over Colorado.

He finished the year with 2,947 passing yards, 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound redshirt senior is expected to reprise his role this fall.

–Field Level Media