Plaintiff withdraws sexual assault lawsuit against BYU QB Jake Retzlaff, who faces 7-game suspension
The withdrawn lawsuit accused Retzlaff, a senior, of sexual assault and battery from a 2023 incident at his apartment in Provo, Utah. The woman, who is identified as Jane Doe A.G., said that Retzlaff raped, strangled and bit her. The accuser filed the lawsuit in May. A lawyer for Retzlaff told The Athletic at the time that the quarterback was innocent.
Part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, BYU’s honor code includes a requirement that students “live a chaste and virtuous life, including abstaining from sexual relations outside marriage between a man and a woman.”
Last season, Retzlaff threw for 2,947 yards, 20 touchdowns, 11 interceptions and completed 57.9 percent of his passes. BYU finished 11-2, ranking No. 13 in the final Associated Press poll. If Retzlaff serves a suspension or leaves the program, redshirt sophomore McCae Hillstead, freshman Bear Bachmeier and junior Treyson Bourguet would likely compete for the starting QB spot.
The school and lawyers for Retzlaff and the plaintiff did not immediately respond to requests for comment from The Athletic.
