Jake Retzlaff’s time at BYU is over. CBS Sports insider Cody Nagel broke down the star quarterback’s withdrawal from the Cougars after Retzlaff was found to have violated the school’s controversial honor code system.
Retzlaff opted to leave BYU after he got embroiled in a lawsuit filed against him by an unidentified woman. He was forced to admit having premarital sex with the woman, who accused the BYU star of assault, battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
The case was eventually dismissed last month, but Retzlaff still faced a lengthy suspension from BYU for violating the honor code, as premarital sex is prohibited by the school. He decided to leave the Cougars to avoid missing a large chunk of the 2025 season.
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Nagel wrote in his article that Retzlaff is ‘taking an unusual route’ with his BYU exit. He explained that the Cougars could have released Retzlaff, allowing the graduate student to enter the transfer portal and pursue a more traditional exit plan.
That didn’t happen in Retzlaff’s case as BYU decided to withhold his release. That left the 22-year-old with no other choice but to withdraw from BYU. This option enables Retzlaff to find other “opportunities elsewhere but requires bypassing the standard transfer system.”
Nagel pointed out that teams can’t contact Retzlaff directly as he is officially not in the transfer portal. However, NCAA rules allow college football programs to communicate with the quarterback’s representatives during his selection process. Schools interested in signing Retzlaff don’t need to worry about Retzlaff missing time next season, as his supposed suspension from BYU wasn’t related to legal rulings or NCAA violations.
BYU Coach Kalani Sitake Breaks Silence on Jake Retzlaff at Big 12 Media Days
Kalani Sitake talked to reporters at Big 12 Media Days, with Jake Retzlaff among the topics of discussion in his press briefing. Retzlaff was still a part of BYU’s lineup when Sitake addressed the media about his embattled quarterback.
Sitake said that they love Retzlaff and appreciate all that he’s done for their program. He added that it would be inappropriate for him to make a statement in Retzlaff’s situation first. The BYU coach believed it’s a private matter, and he’s going to give his player the opportunity to speak for himself.
Retzlaff later announced on Instagram that he has “made the difficult decision to withdraw from BYU” and step away from its football program.
KEEP READING: Jake Retzlaff’s Unexpected Transfer Path Emerges Just 4 Days After WR Chase Roberts’ Honest Take on BYU QB Battle
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