It was a long offseason for former BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff, who was involved in a civil lawsuit accusing him of sexual assault. Retzlaff faced a seven-game suspension from BYU for violating the school’s honor code and announced his intention to transfer.
Shortly after, the case was dismissed, and he later enrolled at Tulane. With the case resolved, here’s everything to know about the quarterback’s legal status.
Jake Retzlaff’s Legal Status Clarified After BYU Lawsuit
Retzlaff was coming off a strong season with the Cougars, leading the team to an 11-2 record while throwing for 2,947 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions, and adding 417 yards and six scores on the ground.
That’ll count on Sundays too @chase_roberts11
📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/3QSDLznO0x
— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) September 22, 2024
He was expected to return to BYU in 2025, but his offseason took a turn after he was named in a civil lawsuit in May, stemming from an incident in 2023 in which a Utah woman accused him of sexual assault.
Retzlaff denied the allegations but admitted to having premarital sex, which violates BYU’s honor code, and faced a seven-game suspension from the university.
He announced his intention to transfer but did not enter the portal; instead, he unenrolled from BYU. Shortly after his announcement, the lawsuit was dismissed.
The dismissal cleared the young quarterback of any legal trouble, as it was dismissed with prejudice, meaning the case cannot be refiled.
Despite the dismissal, it took some time for Retzlaff to find a new program. He transferred late in the offseason, which made schools cautious since he would need to learn a new playbook and compete for the starting job quickly. Additionally, schools’ Title IX offices and general counsels reviewed the civil suit before accepting him onto their rosters.
After Tulane came to the conclusion that the quarterback was cleared of any future legal action or wrongdoing, they opted to bring him in, and Retzlaff enrolled at the university in late July.
NEWS: Former BYU QB Jake Retzlaff has committed to walk-on at Tulane, @PeteNakos_ reports🌊https://t.co/EOjcJUP9tB pic.twitter.com/k69TUw1XWF
— On3 (@On3sports) July 21, 2025
In conclusion, with the civil suit dismissed with prejudice and Tulane’s Title IX office conducting its own review, Jake Retzlaff does not currently face, nor will he face in the future, any legal matters related to this case.
Retzlaff, now fully cleared, has been competing for the starting job with the Green Wave since he enrolled. He’s the most talented and experienced quarterback on the depth chart, but with limited time with the team, he may not win the role until later in the year.
Tulane and Retzlaff open the 2025 season on Saturday, August 30, against the Northwestern Wildcats, a Big Ten opponent. The Game will be broadcast on ESPNU at 12:00 p.m. EST.
