The world of college football collided with the world of trivia game shows when BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff was the subject of a clue on a recent episode of “Jeopardy!”
The popular game show’s “Tournament of Champions” is currently in progress, with contestants competing for a spot in the semifinals. During a recent episode, host Ken Jennings introduced the “Playing Sportsball” category, which included a reference to Retzlaff.
Jake Retzlaff Featured as a “Jeopardy!” Clue
The highest-value clue in the category, worth $1,000, referred to an interesting fact that was highlighted throughout the football season.
“In 2024, the only Jewish starting QB in college football was Jake Retzlaff of this Provo school—one of 3 M.O.T.s [“Members of the Tribe”] on the whole campus.”
Contestant Mark Fitzpatrick quickly responded with the correct answer, “Who is BYU?”
Fitzpatrick later won the game, earning a semifinal spot in the “Tournament of Champions.” Other clues in the category featured notable sports figures such as Bronny James, Roger Federer, and Lionel Messi.
Retzlaff, who led Brigham Young to an impressive 11-2 record this past season, participated in a Jewish comedy event hosted by Chabad of Utah County. During a Q&A session, he shared insights into his journey at BYU, a university affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
He described how he sees divine guidance in his path to playing for the Cougars. He also talked about how the faith-centered environment at BYU has embraced his Jewish identity.
Addressing any concerns about antisemitism, Retzlaff reassured the audience that his experience had been overwhelmingly positive. According to the Deseret News, he claims the student body has embraced him.
“I haven’t, and it’s been the opposite, frankly. That’s one of the best things about BYU—how the university is so faith-centered that they just love to see faith in others, too, and the LDS faith has a funny fascination with Jews.”
Jake Retzlaff’s Pride in His Unique Position
As the first Jewish starting quarterback in BYU history, Retzlaff acknowledges the significance of his role. In a previous interview with the Deseret News, he expressed pride in representing his faith on the national stage.
“It is 100% something I have a lot of pride in, being a Jewish quarterback at BYU,” he explained in the 2023 interview. “It is going to be kinda fun to show a face to the world that is Jewish because you don’t see a lot of Jewish athletes in college football or even in the pros.”
Retzlaff’s feature on Jeopardy is not the first time the game show has spotlighted BYU-related content. In 2023, a full category was dedicated to celebrities with ties to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
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While Ken Jennings, a BYU graduate and longtime “Jeopardy!” champion, has spoken highly of the show’s writers, he clarified that he does not personally select clues. In his latest book, he shut down rumors of having any sway in the selected clues.
“No, that was not me. I would not be injecting my own identity politics into the game.”
As Retzlaff continues his career, both on the field and in the public eye, his impact as a trailblazer at BYU remains undeniable. He will continue his Cougars career when his team kicks off the 2025 season on Aug. 30 with a home game against the FCS Portland State Vikings out of Oregon.
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