BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff against Arizona / BYU Photo
A civil lawsuit accusing BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff of rape has been dismissed, according to court records. The dismissal came after both parties agreed to drop the case with prejudice, which means it cannot be filed again. Neither Retzlaff nor the woman involved has made a public comment.
Retzlaff Expected to Leave BYU
Retzlaff now plans to transfer out of BYU, according to a report from ESPN. The 21-year-old quarterback is facing a possible seven-game suspension for violating BYU’s honor code after admitting to premarital sex during the legal process.
ESPN mentioned that he has already begun informing BYU staff and teammates of his decision to leave the program. He had been participating in summer workouts before the team began its scheduled break, which runs until July 7.
In the meantime, BYU coaches have increased reps for three backup quarterbacks — McCae Hillstead, Treyson Bourguet, and Bear Bachmeier — as they prepare for the possibility that Retzlaff won’t return.
Allegations and Legal Response
The lawsuit, filed in June, accused Retzlaff of rape, strangulation, and biting during an encounter in November 2023. The woman — identified as Jane Doe A.G. — claimed she repeatedly said “no” and “stop,” but Retzlaff allegedly ignored her and continued.
The encounter reportedly began when the woman and a friend visited Retzlaff’s apartment to play video games. Several of Retzlaff’s friends and teammates were also present. The lawsuit says that after her friend left, the woman and Retzlaff began watching a movie and kissing. When she attempted to slow things down, she claims Retzlaff became forceful and later assaulted her.
A few days later, the woman went to a hospital, where a rape kit was administered and photos of injuries were taken. She did not immediately give Retzlaff’s name to police, according to the lawsuit.
In a legal response filed last week, Retzlaff denied the accusations. His attorney said the encounter was consensual and pointed to friendly text exchanges between the two in the months that followed. The response also claimed the lawsuit was an attempt to extort money from Retzlaff after his rise as an NFL prospect.
No criminal charges have been filed against Retzlaff.
BYU’s Response and Honor Code Context
After the lawsuit became public, BYU released a statement saying it takes all allegations seriously and follows Title IX procedures. The university said it could not comment further due to privacy laws.
Retzlaff is not the first BYU athlete to face suspension over premarital sex — a violation of the school’s honor code. In 2011, basketball player Brandon Davies was dismissed from a nationally ranked team for a similar reason. In 1999, football player Reno Mahe was suspended and later returned after attending junior college.
Retzlaff’s Time at BYU
Retzlaff, who has already graduated, is expected to enter the transfer portal soon. In his first season as BYU’s starting quarterback in 2024, he led the Cougars to an 11-2 record. He threw for 2,947 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions across 13 starts.
His next move — both on and off the field — remains to be seen.
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This report used information from ESPN.
