BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff is anticipating a seven-game suspension for violating the school’s Honor Code, multiple sources told The Salt Lake Tribune.

Facing the prospect of missing more than half the 2025 season, Retzlaff has begun telling his coaches and teammates he is likely to leave the program.

The BYU staff has been ramping up the preparation of the three backup quarterbacks — McCae Hillstead, Treyson Bourguet, and Bear Bachmeier — in anticipation that Retzlaff might not be available.

In a civil lawsuit filed in May, Retzlaff was accused of sexually assaulting a woman, identified in court documents as Jane Doe A.G., at his Provo home in November 2023.

Through his attorney, Retzlaff immediately denied the sexual assault allegations. In his legal response filed Friday, he said that he had “consensual” sex with the woman who has accused him of assaulting her.

After the lawsuit was filed, BYU issued a statement, saying: “The university takes any allegation very seriously, following all processes and guidelines mandated by Title IX. Due to federal and university privacy laws and practices for students, the university will not be able to provide additional comment.”

Retzlaff has asked for the case to be dismissed. But the filing in Utah’s 3rd District Court would inevitably be considered by officials at BYU. The school is operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and enforces an Honor Code that sets guidelines for employees and students to follow.

Among other things, the code prohibits premarital sex and instructs students to “live a chaste and virtuous life.”

Retzlaff, who graduated from BYU, is expected to enter his name in the transfer portal in the coming days. He started 13 games for the Cougars in 2024, his first year as the starter, leading the team to an 11-2 record. he passed for 2,947 yards and 20 touchdowns with 12 interceptions.

BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff was accused of raping a woman from Utah. During the alleged incident in November 2023, the woman was strangled and bitten by the quarterback.

A lawsuit filed in Utah state court on Wednesday alleges that the police were uncooperative. The woman alleges the Provo police encouraged the victim not to do anything, as they claimed, “sexual assault victims never get justice.”

The Provo police disputed the statement in a press release.

The woman in the lawsuit is identified as Jane Doe A.G.

“A year and a half after the rape and strangulation, Jane Doe A.G. continues to experience post-traumatic stress disorder and other trauma symptoms as she works to process what happened and move on,” the lawsuit states.

In the lawsuit, it is detailed that the woman and the BYU quarterback connected through social media in October 2023 and sent messages back and forth before Retzlaff invited the woman to his home.

The woman arrived with a friend, who eventually left, and the two of them began watching a movie before the alleged incident occurred. They started to kiss, and then the rising quarterback escalated the situation.

The woman pleaded “no” and “wait, stop” with Retzlaff and in an attempt to leave, Retzlaff allegedly put his hands around the woman’s neck and ended up raping her.

Retzlaff’s attorney, Mark Baute, claimed his client is “factually incorrect” in a statement.

“We look forward to proving that innocence,” Baute said. “Jake’s focus this year will be on football. We don’t try cases in the media, we will respect the process and establish Jake’s innocence through the judicial system.”

Upon connecting with the Provo police, the woman did not share Retzlaff’s name until later when officials asked for the name due to someone else filing a complaint against a football player, according to the lawsuit. This led to Jane Doe A.G. sharing the quarterback’s name, which led to the police encouraging her not to do anything, the lawsuit alleges.

“From everything we have reviewed, this is not true,” the Provo Police Department statement said. “We have a team of dedicated investigators and victim advocates whose sole mission is to provide justice to victims of sexual abuse. They do not send people away, warning them there is no justice for victims.”