The NCAA Gave Jake Retzlaff Credit for Touchdown Pass to Chase Roberts

Casey Lundquist | Oct 4, 2024

Chase Roberts catches a screen pass for a touchdown against Baylor / BYU Photo

On Saturday against Baylor, Jake Retzlaff threw a screen pass to Chase Roberts for a touchdown. The Baylor statisticians ruled the play a lateral and credited Roberts with a running touchdown. According to BYU offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick on Coordinator's Corner, BYU "argued" that it was a pass but the Baylor statisticians disagreed initially. After an appeal, the BYU and Baylor officials worked together and reversed the decision after reviewing the film.

QUICK STRIKE @chase_roberts11!! pic.twitter.com/KKntRRcm2y

— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) September 28, 2024

Jake Retzlaff is now credited with three touchdown passes and a rushing touchdown against Baylor.

"We practice that play often," Roderick said on Monday. "We make sure to throw it forward so that if it's incomplete, the other team can't scoop and score. The Baylor statisticians saw it otherwise. We argued it, but it's ok it's a touchdown either way."

With the reversal, Retzlaff is now credited with all four of BYU's touchdowns against Baylor. Even though BYU's offense came to a grinding halt in the second half, the Cougars still scored 31 points against Baylor, the most the Bears have allowed in regulation this season.

The reversal also gives Retzlaff 12 passing touchdowns for the 2024 season. He is now tied for 11th nationally for the most passing touchdowns.

BYU's offense has relied almost completely on Jake Retzlaff to move the chains. With so many injuries at running back, Retzlaff has also been BYU's leading rusher. BYU has 1,929 yards of total offense this year and Retzlaff has accounted for 1,362 (71%) of those yards. Retzlaff ranks 26th nationally in passing yards.