Jake Retzlaff Makes Final Decision on Future at BYU originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

Jake Retzlaff announced on Friday that he’s officially withdrawing from BYU. The move formally puts him a step closer to starting the transfer process.

Retzlaff, who was BYU’s starting quarterback last year, was facing a seven-game suspension for breaking the school’s Honor Code. He said in an Instagram post that he made the “difficult decision” to withdraw and that he plans to “step away” from the program.

ESPN’s Pete Thamel first broke the news of Retzlaff’s transfer two weeks ago. However, this is the first public acknowledgement of what has been expected. Retzlaff began informing his teammates and coaches last month of his intentions, leaving many questions to be answered.

As for Retzlaff’s path to a new school, it’s not clear at this point how soon he’ll be ready to go. It’s not likely he’ll use the transfer portal at this time. That path is not a common one, but given the time frame to the upcoming season, it’s manageable.

Retzlaff expressed his feelings about BYU, saying “it has meant more to me than just football.” He also added that he’s ready to “Turn the page and embrace the next chapter.”

While BYU officials avoided the topic of Retzlaff’s departure, head coach Kalani Sitake said he “loved and appreciated” everything his now former signal-caller did for the program.

In a statement on Friday, BYU athletics said: “We are grateful for the time Jake Retzlaff has spent at BYU. As he moves forward, BYU Athletics understands and respects Jake’s decision to withdraw from BYU, and we wish him all the best as he enters the next phase of his career.”

Retzlaff went 11-2 as BYU’s starting quarterback in 2024, throwing for 2,947 yards with 26 total touchdowns. BYU is now left with a three-way quarterback battle going into fall camp in Provo.

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 13, 2025, where it first appeared.