Jake Retzlaff, BYU’s quarterback, expects a seven-game suspension from the institution for an honor code breach in the wake of a sexual assault accusation against him, according to the Salt Lake Tribune.
Retzlaff plans to transfer in anticipation of the ban, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel. Retzlaff is a graduate student who has just one year of eligibility left.
Retzlaff has denied the allegation, which was included in a lawsuit filed in May. He argues that he had consensual relations with his accuser, which seems to be the reason for his suspension from BYU, rather than the sexual assault claim.
According to the SLT, having consensual premarital intercourse is a breach of BYU’s honor code, which is administered by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. BYU has a stringent honor policy that forbids premarital intercourse and orders students to “live a chaste and virtuous life. ” Retzlaff is not Mormon, yet the honor code applies to all BYU students.
Other BYU athletes have been subjected to long honor code suspensions, including NFL running back Jamaal Williams, who missed the whole 2015 season while at BYU. Williams stated that he told the Green Bay Packers during his pre-draft interview that I had a girlfriend in my room when questioned about why he missed the previous season.
What Retzlaff is accused of
A Salt Lake County lady known as Jane Doe A. G. sued Retzlaff for sexual assault in May. According to the lawsuit, Retzlaff’s accuser claims that he sexually assaulted her in his home in 2023. According to the complaint, she agreed to kiss while in Retzlaff’s room but did not want to do anything else. She claims that Retzlaff raped her forcefully after she repeatedly told him no and to stop.
According to the lawsuit, Retzlaff’s accuser contacted police about the incident and had a rape kit completed. According to the lawsuit, she did not initially identify Retzlaff to law enforcement. Retzlaff does not face criminal charges.
The lawsuit asks for at least $300,000 in compensation for alleged battery, assault, and purposeful infliction of emotional distress.
Retzlaff disputed that he assaulted his accuser in a legal response filed Friday in Utah’s 3rd District Court. He admits to having intercourse with his accuser as part of a “normal evening of consensual sexual interaction. ” His filing claims that the accuser wants to extort him now that he is an NFL candidate.
News of Retzlaff’s prospective suspension comes two days after he filed a court document alleging that he had consensual intercourse.
Retzlaff joined BYU from Riverside City College in 2023 and served as BYU’s starting quarterback in 2024. He guided the Cougars to an 11-2 record, which ended with an Alamo Bowl triumph over Colorado. Retzlaff completed 57. 9% of his passes for 2,947 yards (226. 7 yards per game), 8 yards per attempt, 20 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions.
