BYU football has found itself in a mud pit.
With starting quarterback Jake Retzlaff facing a sexual assault case from a 2023 incident that just came to light, the quarterback -- and his team -- face something of a no-win situation regardless of the case's result. Though he hasn't been criminally charged, the attached sexual encounter could remove Retzlaff from the football program for violation of the honor code.
If Retzlaff is declared innocent of legal wrongdoing, his roster spot would still be in jeopardy with BYU if he confirms the referenced premarital intercourse -- a serious violation of the university's code of conduct.
Putting it simply: this is a bit of a lose-lose for both Retzlaff and the team.
But with the assumption that Retzlaff may be out the door, the big question for a BYU team that hopes to be competitive is who's up next? BYU has three quarterbacks in the wings of A-Rod's arsenal in Hillstead, Bourguet, and Bachmeier, but which is likely to grab that starting spot in an open competition?
McCae Hillstead - Sophomore
Hillstead was a highly coveted transfer acquisition for BYU, as they obtained a quarterback deemed the heir-apparent of Utah State's QB1 title. A local product out of Skyridge High School in Lehi, Utah, Hillstead transferred to BYU after his freshman season with the Aggies.
His best performance at the D-1 level came against James Madison, when he tossed 399 yards and four touchdowns against the Dukes. Still young in his collegiate career, Hillstead would be a strong contender for the starting nod.
Treyson Bourguet - Junior
Bourguet transferred from Western Michigan University to join the Cougars. Having a solid, though not especially eye-grabbing run with the Broncos, Treyson started in 10 games across his two seasons with the MAC squad, throwing for 1,314 yards and six scores.
He got his college start with Miami before heading to Western Michigan, and is the obvious choice if Aaron Rodriguez opts for a veteran presence behind center this season.
Bear Bachmeier - Freshman
Bachmeier is a fascinating prospect for the Cougars, and boasts the highest ceiling of all three players on this list. A very highly sought-after recruit coming out of high school, Bear was a four-star quarterback who received offers from Georgia, Alabama, Notre Dame, Miami, and Michigan to name a few.
Donning the number 47, Bear becomes a fullback once he crosses the line of scrimmage. Ranked the 11th-best quarterback in his class, he's a strong runner and an excellent passer. BYU was very excited to secure his commitment as a possible successor to Retzlaff. It didn't take too long for that to become a possibility.
An impressive resume for the young quarterback, who transferred from Stanford when the program saw a major shakeup in their coaching room before the season. Now with the Cougars, Bachmeier has the chance to take over a major P4 program in his first collegiate season.