Jake Retzlaff Not Done in Big 12? CFB Analyst Projects Landing Spots

With Jake Retzlaff on the way out of Provo, many have speculated what his next move will be. An unexpected Power Four starting quarterback hitting the market with six weeks to go before the season starts is extremely unconventional. Retzlaff's decision to withdraw from BYU and avoid a seven-game suspension puts him with six options, according to CBS Sports' Brad Crawford. 

Among the list of possible schools, there were two within the Big 12 conference. Crawford believes UCF and Oklahoma State might bring Retzlaff in his final season. Here's his thoughts on both situations. 

UCF
"Would Scott Frost entertain the idea of an added threat coming to Orlando in time for the season? Perhaps. Tayven Jackson, the backup to Kurtis Rourke last fall for playoff-bound Indiana, tops the depth chart with Cam Fancher behind him at the moment. Jackson had starting experience with the Hoosiers after riding the bench at Tennessee, but he is essentially unproven when compared to Retzlaff. It didn't work out at Nebraska for Frost, but what he was able to do offensively at UCF previously with dynamic play at the quarterback position could be appealing to Retzlaff."

Oklahoma State
"Mike Gundy is unsure who will be taking first-team reps when the Cowboys open camp next month, but it seems Zane Flores and former TCU transfer Hauss Henjey will fight for the opportunity. This comes after Oklahoma State watched two others at the position leave the program this spring. One of several Big 12 programs without a penciled-in starter at the moment, Oklahoma State offers a quarterback-friendly scheme with familiarity for Retzlaff -- one of the draws of staying within the conference -- that likely wouldn't take tireless hours to learn in August."

Outside of the Big 12, Crawford also believes the remaining four schools consist of Notre Dame, Northwestern, Appalachian State, and Tulane. The obvious winner for Retzlaff would be Marcus Freeman and the Fighting Irish. After losing in the National Championship game eariler this year, Notre Dame is the only one on the list expected to be a title contender again this year. 

Retzlaff was a major factor in BYU's success during the 2024 season. He accounted for 66% of the Cougars' total offense, finishing with 26 total touchdowns. This won't be a plug and play situation with any of BYU's backup signal-callers. Expect a few struggles going into the upcoming season.