BYU Making ‘Concerted Effort’ in Jake Retzlaff's Departure, Per Report

BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff is still in a “holding pattern," but picking up interest from several Power Four football programs, according to Deseret News' Jay Drew. Instead of accepting a seven-game suspension handed out by BYU for violating the school’s honor code, Retzlaff is trusting the process. 

As on Tuesday afternoon, Retzlaff hasn't officially put his name in the transfer portal. It was initially believed he had two ways of playing for another school in the 2025 season. However, one of those isn't going to happen. However, Retzlaff believes "He has a “clear avenue” to transfer and play immediately at another school in August," a source told Drew. "But did not elaborate on what that path may entail."

Retzlaff would have to enter a one-time transfer window that was recently established by the NCAA Committee on Legislative Relief in the wake of the House Settlement. It would establish him on the “Designated Student-Athlete” list with a special window from July 7 to Aug. 5.

A separate Big 12 source told Drew that BYU officials explored this route on Retzlaff’s behalf but learned that it was not appropriate in his case. "The designation is a carve-out reserved for specific athletes who lose their spot on a college roster due to the smaller roster sizes agreed to in the House Settlement. Football rosters have been cut to 105 from 130, and the settlement created the DSA category only for those who would lose their roster spot because of that reduction."

This means Retzlaff would need a waiver from the NCAA to play this year.

BYU head coach Kalani Sitake set the record straight on the situation in two separate comments. "We love Jake and appreciate everything he’s done for us, but I’ll let him make statements about his situation," Sitake said to ESPN's Pete Thamel. He followed up by saying, “We expect our students to live according to what they signed up for.”

Retzlaff threw for 2,947 yards with 26 total touchdowns and 12 interceptions last year. He led the Cougars to an 11-2 season and came into this year as with high expectations in the Big 12.