BYU football has more than just quarterback questions heading into fall camp

This season marks a decade since Kalani Sitake took the reins in Provo.

And BYU’s head football coach will need every ounce of that experience to save the Cougars’ season.

What was once a top-25 team contending for the College Football Playoff is now just a program trying to regroup after losing its leader.

Quarterback Jake Retzalff, who led BYU to an 11-2 season in 2024, is headed to Tulane after a chaotic exit. Retzlaff was sued for civil sexual assault and faced a seven-game Honor Code suspension in the aftermath, The Salt Lake Tribune reported. Rather than sit out, Retzlaff will instead try to lead the Green Wave to the playoffs.

That leaves the Cougars without a quarterback, and, until further notice, without an offensive identity.

BYU is hoping to find some answers in the truncated window of fall camp. But the odds are long as the Cougars stare down a difficult Big 12 slate.

Here are five questions BYU has to answer before its season opener Aug. 30 against Portland State.

Who will take the first snap?

BYU thought it was out of the woods when it came to a quarterback battle. But here we go again.

Last year, Retzlaff competed with Gerry Bohanon for the starting role. BYU didn’t make a decision until the Tuesday before the first game. And it looks like it is headed that way again.

Only this time there aren’t as many strong options.

Both Retzlaff and Bohanon had Power Four experience. Bohanon led Baylor to a Sugar Bowl and Retzlaff started the last four games in 2023, nearly beating Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.

This time no quarterback in the room has played a snap at this level. McCae Hillstead had one year at Utah State. Treyson Bourguet played at Western Michigan. Bear Bachmeier is a true freshman who hasn’t even practiced in Provo. He came from Stanford, where he finished one semester before hitting the portal.

The only silver lining is BYU doesn’t have the most difficult nonconference schedule. So whoever starts will theoretically have time to figure things out before Big 12 play. The Cougars will see Portland State, Stanford and East Carolina out of the gate. With the defense playing at a high level, BYU should be favored to win all of those games.

But fall camp’s top story is undoubtedly who emerges at quarterback. Hillstead is the favorite. But nothing is a lock.

Buckle up for a long battle.

Can LJ Martin stay healthy?

With the quarterback position in flux, offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick will need the supporting cast more than ever. It means running back LJ Martin just became more important.

Martin is arguably BYU’s best offensive player now. He’s been a heavy contributor since his freshman season and showed exactly what the offensive formula would look like with him as the focal point in the Alamo Bowl. He accounted for 121 yards and two touchdowns. Roderick will need more of that playmaking.

The main issue around Martin, however, has always been his health. He played in 10 games last year but his status was often in question. He still managed to run for over 700 yards.

Martin will likely need to be a 1,000-yard back this season if BYU wants to go anywhere. So, staying healthy will be the main focus, particularly with an increased workload.

Looking for the next receiver?

It might not have seemed like an incredibly important decision at the time, but Keelan Marion’s departure to Miami after spring camp now looks critical.

Marion wasn’t as good as former BYU receiver Puka Nacua. But his usage was similar. He could be a traditional wide receiver, a jet-sweep threat and an issue in handoffs. He was a dynamic playmaker that BYU will miss.

With Retzlaff at the helm, maybe BYU could overcome an offense without Marion. But now the supporting cast really needs to step up.

Chase Roberts will anchor the receiver room and Parker Kingston is a senior. Outside of that, at least one young player will have to fill the void.

Cody Hagen is a heralded player but is coming off an injury in spring camp. JoJo Phillips is primed to take a spotlight role. It’s possible BYU will replace Marion with a committee of inexperienced options.

Corner resources?

There aren’t too many holes on BYU’s defense. Perhaps one of the only questions is at the corner spot.

BYU is relatively inexperienced there, which has defensive coordinator Jay Hill on alert.

“Although I think they are pretty talented, there are just not a lot of game reps,” Hill said after spring camp ended.

Mory Bamba is undoubtedly the most experienced in the room after emerging last year. But Hill will need one of his recruits to step into a major role. Fortunately he has plenty of options to choose from who are highly rated.

How will BYU handle the first month of the year?

The Cougars have a bye week in the first month of the season. In theory that gives the starting quarterback, whoever he is, even more time before conference play.

It also could open up some options for BYU to let multiple quarterbacks take game snaps during the nonconference slate.

This is especially interesting for a player like Bachmeier, a true freshman who might be the most talented option in the room. It’s unlikely he will know the whole playbook by the end of fall camp. But if BYU could essentially give him two months, that might make a difference.

Sitake has played freshmen before. Zach Wilson played in nine games in his first year and that turned out well for the Cougars.