PROVO, Utah (AP) — BYU is unexpectedly searching for a new starting quarterback while trying to contend for a Big 12 title again this season.

Jake Retzlaff led the Cougars to an 11-2 record and an Alamo Bowl victory over Colorado a year ago while throwing for 2,947 yards and 20 touchdowns. With Retzlaff returning for his senior season, BYU was optimistic about building on that success in 2025. But he left the program in July.

Retzlaff was named as a defendant in a since-dismissed civil lawsuit that accused him of sexual assault. He acknowledged what he described as a consensual sexual relationship in his defense.

Following the lawsuit’s dismissal, Retzlaff transferred to Tulane rather than face a potential suspension for violating a requirement in BYU’s honor code asking students to abstain from premarital sex.

His departure left a major hole in BYU's offense heading into fall camp. Three quarterbacks — McCae Hillstead, Treyson Bourguet, and Bear Bachmeier — have emerged as serious candidates to be the new signal caller.

“Luckily this staff has been through quarterback competitions many times before,” BYU coach Kalani Sitake said. “The goal is to try to get these guys in situations where we can play football and see how they can function.”

Hillstead and Bourguet have already spent a year in the program. Both players were buried on the depth chart behind Retzlaff and backup QB Gerry Bohanon after transferring into BYU last season. Each quarterback came to Provo with starting experience at their previous schools.

Hillstead appeared in eight games, starting four, as a true freshman in 2023. He threw for 1,062 yards and 11 touchdowns while completing 59.5% of his passes.

During his lone season with the Aggies, Hillstead set Utah State’s freshman single-game passing record. He tallied 399 yards and four touchdowns on 25-of-47 passing in a 45-38 loss to James Madison.

Hillstead is listed at 5-foot-10 and struggled to stay healthy at Utah State. But he’s confident that his familiarity with the BYU playbook and his experience with the Aggies will help him overcome any perceived disadvantage with his height and smaller frame.

“You can’t try to be anybody else other than yourself,” Hillstead said. “Put that all on tape. Be your best self and try to go get it.”

Bourguet played in 10 games over two seasons at Western Michigan before transferring to BYU in 2024. He threw for 1,314 yards and six touchdowns while completing 52.4% of his passes.

The 6-foot-2 junior is feeling confident after having continuity for the first time in his football career. Bourguet had to adapt to new coaches and new offensive systems in all four years of high school football and both seasons at Western Michigan.

“This is most confident and comfortable I’ve been in a system my whole career,” Bourguet said.

Bachmeier did not play a snap for Stanford, transferring from the Cardinal to the Cougars after spring practices. The 6-foot-2 true freshman is trying to follow in the footsteps of his older brother, Hank, who won the starting job as a freshman at Boise State.

Hank Bachmeier eventually made 48 career starts in stints at Boise State, Louisiana Tech, and Wake Forest, tallying 11,256 yards and 67 touchdowns over six seasons. The younger Bachmeier looks at his older brother as his primary mentor as he tries to make his own mark.

“He’s obviously played a lot of ball, he’s got a lot of experience,” Bachmeier said. “So I’m just trying to be a sponge with him. Obviously, he’s passing down a lot of knowledge to me and I’m trying to soak it up as much as I can.”

Sitake and offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick split first-teams reps evenly between Hillstead, Bachmeier, and Bourguet in the first fall practice. Their preference is to name a starter quickly, but they also don’t want to rush their evaluation period ahead of the season opener at home against Portland State on August 30th.

“I know that we can wait until the first game, but we’d like to get it sorted out as soon as we can,” Sitake said. “You can’t really put a deadline to it. It’s not like we have to have this much done in day one, day two, or day three. I just like to see them go with the flow of the offense.”

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