BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff is withdrawing from BYU and intends to enroll in one other college to play soccer for the 2025 soccer season, CBS Sports activities’ Matt Zenitz confirms.
Retzlaff was accused of sexual assault in a civil lawsuit that was dismissed on June 30. Nonetheless, he faces a possible prolonged suspension for violating the BYU honor code. Relatively than sit by way of the punishment, the Cougars quarterback is on the lookout for one other residence for 2025.
With Retzlaff departing, McCae Hillstead and Treyson Bourguet are the favorites to win the beginning job at BYU. Class of 2025 prospects Bear Bachmeier and Nolan Keeney each joined this system over the summer time as properly. However whereas there are gifted choices within the room, the lack of Retzlaff dramatically shapes the Massive 12 race.
The Cougars had been one in every of a handful of groups to hover round 7- or 8-to-1 odds to win the Massive 12. In keeping with FanDuel, BYU now sits at 19-to-1 odds, behind Kansas and narrowly forward of Cincinnati. Their win whole additionally slipped from 7.5 to six.5, signaling a group going from potential rivalry to combating for bowl eligibility.
BYU was led by its protection throughout a breakout season, however a lot was requested of Retzlaff. The previous junior school switch was instantly answerable for 66% of BYU’s whole offense between his arm and legs, and scored 26 of the Cougars’ 41 offensive touchdowns. Operating backs LJ Martin and Hinckley Ropati each missed a number of video games with accidents, making his position extra very important.
“My job as a head coach is to get all people able to roll and I am actually enthusiastic about our program and our group and pleased with what we’ve got coming again mixed with the expertise that we introduced in and developed inside the program. I really feel like we’re in a great spot. I am excited to get that going,” Sitake stated.
Much more than the numbers, Retzlaff confirmed up in huge moments. In a rivalry recreation towards Utah, Retzlaff accomplished back-to-back passes of 30 and 19 yards within the closing 90 seconds to get into subject objective vary and win. Towards Oklahoma State, Retzlaff threw a 35-yard landing go to Darius Lassiter with 10 seconds remaining to remain undefeated.
Who’s up?
The Cougars tried to prioritize getting our bodies within the quarterback room with expertise enjoying on the FBS degree. Final yr, McCae Hillstead and Treyson Bourguet each joined this system and redshirted.
“It is a tremendous gifted room,” Sitake stated. “We have had them within the system for some time now, so that they’re very snug with [our] system and with our offense. I feel they’ve distinctive abilities which might be completely different than even what Jake does.”
Hillstead was a standout as a freshman at Utah State in 2023, beginning 4 video games and throwing for 1,062 yards and 11 touchdowns on a mediocre squad. Towards James Madison, he threw for 399 yards and 4 touchdowns. Bourguet performed 10 video games at Western Michigan, together with 328 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Ball State.
“McCae can actually transfer, he can run,” Sitake stated. “He can prolong the play along with his legs, however all three of those guys can throw the ball.”
Each gamers had been relegated to splitting third-team reps behind Retzlaff and Gerry Bohanon in 2024. The pair solely have two mixed video games towards energy convention opponents – each by Bourguet, who accomplished for 15-for-32 passes for 168 yards and 5.3 yards per go try in blowout losses to Syracuse and Iowa.
BYU additionally bought a dedication from Class of 2026 quarterback Ryder Lyons, a five-star who ranks among the many greatest prospects in program historical past. Nonetheless, he won’t pay many dividends brief time period as he plans to take the 2026 yr off to go on a Mormon mission.
The way it shakes up the Massive 12
The Cougars are nonetheless gifted throughout the board and can subject one of many convention’s greatest defenses. Nonetheless, it is exhausting to see BYU staying within the high group of contenders with out a confirmed quarterback within the lineup. That opens the door for a number of applications, particularly these with BYU on their schedule.
Utah stands to be maybe the largest beneficiary of the bunch. The 2 groups play a rivalry recreation on Oct. 18 in Provo. TCU is one other potential Massive 12 contender that now faces a extra manageable street journey to LaVell Edwards Stadium on Nov. 15. BYU additionally has video games towards Massive 12 contenders Texas Tech and Iowa State within the latter half of the season.
The Cougars are nonetheless robust sufficient to nip at heels, however a possible step again may create a vacuum for brand new contenders to step into.
