BYU Turns the Page: Jake Retzlaff Exits, New Era Begins Under Center
The Jake Retzlaff era at BYU has officially come to a close. On Friday, the senior quarterback announced his intention to leave the program and finish his college career elsewhere.
Despite Retzlaff’s departure, the impact may not be as significant as some might expect—at least according to ESPN’s Bill Connelly. In his Big 12 season preview, Connelly noted that BYU’s outlook shifts only slightly without Retzlaff under center. The Cougars were originally projected to start at No. 27 in the SP+ rankings with an expected 8.4 wins. Without him, that projection drops just five spots to No. 32 and a win range of 7.9–8.1.
Connelly, however, offered a disclaimer familiar to anyone who’s followed BYU football over the years:
“That’s fine, though, because I’m always wrong about BYU. Kalani Sitake’s Cougars have been all over the map in recent years, zigging when I thought they’d zag.”
He reflected on their unpredictable trajectory post-Zach Wilson: a strong 10-3 season in 2021, a slide to 8-5 in 2022, followed by a disappointing 5-7 mark in 2023—despite returning much of their roster. In 2024, with a JUCO transfer at quarterback and little national expectation, the Cougars unexpectedly surged. Both sides of the ball improved drastically, peaking at No. 7 in the AP Poll before finishing in the top 15.
“So yeah, my BYU preview was going to be a giant shrug of the shoulders regardless of the QB situation,” Connelly admitted.
A Soft Launch for a New Leader
The Cougars may be transitioning quarterbacks, but the early schedule could offer a smooth runway for BYU’s next signal-caller. They open the 2025 season at home against an FCS opponent, followed by a visit from a struggling Stanford program projected to be among the worst in the Power Four. After that, a timely bye week gives BYU extra time to prepare for a road trip to East Carolina.
If the new quarterback can find a rhythm through those opening weeks, BYU could enter a pivotal stretch with some confidence. After the Colorado road trip, the Cougars face Arizona and West Virginia—two winnable Big 12 matchups.
Then comes the real test: a brutal mid-season gauntlet featuring Utah, at Iowa State, at Texas Tech, and TCU. The hope is that by the time BYU hits that stretch, they’ll have found a steady hand to replace Retzlaff’s production from 2024.
Whether the new face under center can match—or even exceed—Retzlaff’s legacy remains to be seen. But in true BYU fashion, expect the unexpected.