Kalani Sitake Shrugs Off Jake Retzlaff Exit at Big 12 Media Days: ‘It’s Not About One Player’

BYU head coach Kalani Sitake addressed the departure of quarterback Jake Retzlaff during Big 12 Media Days on Tuesday, offering a measured but confident response to questions about the program’s outlook moving forward.

“We love Jake and appreciate everything he’s done for us,” Sitake said. “But I’ll let him make statements about his situation. The program is fine. No matter the situation. It’s not about one coach. It’s not about one player, either. We feel good about our program.”

The comment, while brief, made it clear that Sitake isn’t interested in getting into the weeds on why Retzlaff left or how the coaching staff views it internally. What he did make clear is that BYU isn’t panicking, and there’s no sense of dysfunction within the locker room or quarterback room.

Retzlaff led the Cougars to an 11-2 record in 2024 and was expected to be one of the league’s better signal callers again in 2025. His decision to exit the program, regardless of the reasoning, sparked some speculation around player-coach dynamics and frustrations behind the scenes. Sitake didn’t confirm or deny any of that, instead shifting the focus to the overall health of the program.

The response was classic Kalani Sitake: Respectful, composed, and focused on the culture he’s been building since BYU entered the Big 12. There’s no panic in his words, no finger-pointing, just a steady belief in the guys who are still in Provo and the plan moving forward.

As for who will take the reins at quarterback, that picture will clear up in fall camp. For now, Sitake is putting the message out there: BYU’s going to be just fine.